Rice production reaches 34.6 million tonnes as government strengthens stockpiles to face drought

The government continues to strengthen national food security amid the dynamics of a global crisis that has affected international food supply chains. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia (RI), Sudaryono, said the government is optimising the absorption of paddy, protecting farmers, and increasing government food stockpiles to ensure the population’s needs are met in various conditions. One of the steps being taken is to optimise farmers’ paddy absorption, enlarge government stockpiles, and maintain stability of the supply and price of rice nationwide. ‘Indonesia has achieved a significant increase in rice production throughout 2025. National rice production was recorded at 34.6 million tonnes, up about 4 million tonnes from the 2024 realisation of 30.6 million tonnes,’ Sudaryono said at a meeting with Commission VI of the DPR RI at the Parliament Building on Tuesday (19 May 2026). He said this achievement demonstrates Indonesia has strengthened the foundation of food self-sufficiency in a relatively short time. ‘Indonesia has achieved food self-sufficiency within a year with rice production in 2025,’ he said. According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the drought season this year began in April in the Nusa Tenggara region and is expected to spread to other areas, with the drought’s peak in August 2026. In facing this situation, the government strengthens national food stockpiles to maintain supply stability and rice prices amid potential production declines due to the prolonged drought. As of 18 May 2026, rice absorption realised stood at 2.8 million tonnes, still about 1.2 million tonnes short of the government target. ‘Total government rice stocks from 2025 to 18 May reached 5.37 million tonnes, the highest in Indonesia’s history,’ Sudaryono said. He is optimistic that the targets for paddy and rice absorption for 2026 can still be achieved given the national harvest potential remains high in the coming months.