Prabowo: We Will Soon Become the World's Rice Barn

President Prabowo Subianto inspected modern rice cultivation technology in Gorontalo that has increased grain production by up to 100 percent. Prabowo is increasingly optimistic that Indonesia can become the world’s rice barn. The inspection of the rice cultivation technology was carried out by Prabowo after delivering a speech at the XVII National Farmers and Fishermen Week (Penas) peak event at the David-Tony Sports Hall, Limboto, Gorontalo Regency, on Wednesday (24/6/2026). Prabowo was accompanied by Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman. In his remarks, Prabowo appreciated the technology, which can boost grain productivity by up to 100 percent. Prabowo expressed his belief that Indonesia will become the world’s rice barn. “Thank you, I think there are many new technological innovations and new techniques developed by the agricultural community and the Minister of Agriculture. The results are, in my view, quite revolutionary. What previously produced 5 tonnes of grain can now produce 10 tonnes, even more than 12 tonnes. That means our productivity has risen by 100 percent. I think it won’t be long before we can become the world’s rice barn, we can help many countries, but the main thing now is to be grateful,” Prabowo told reporters in Gorontalo on Wednesday (24/6/2026). Prabowo emphasised that strengthening the national food sector must not be short-term but should be built as a sustainable system. According to him, farmer welfare must be a primary concern so that Indonesia’s agricultural sector can grow in a stable and sustainable manner. “We must safeguard this. It cannot be a one- or two-year phenomenon; it must be a sustainable system. Our farmers must live well, we must learn technology as quickly as possible, all our food production must be secured. We must intensify, extensify, and downstream,” he said. He assessed that Indonesia has great capital to become a strong country in the food sector thanks to its wealth of natural resources. With proper management, Prabowo is optimistic that national food production can be continuously increased. “I think I am very happy. We are optimistic. All great and strong nations have a strong agricultural foundation as their backup. If our food production is secure, we are safe in facing many challenges,” he said. Prabowo wants similar technology to be applied in other regions. He desires that every province and district can achieve food self-sufficiency and generate export potential. “I think this is it. We want this to be socialised and taught to all regions. We want every village to be self-sufficient, every sub-district self-sufficient, every district self-sufficient, every province self-sufficient. At a minimum, provinces should produce for export to other places. This is our strategy going forward,” he said.