Video: Rice Reserves Surge, So Why Are Rice Prices Still High?

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — The National Food Agency said national rice reserve stocks were secure through the end of 2026, with government rice reserves reaching 4.8 million tonnes in September 2026.

Reviewing the position of the Government Rice Reserves (CBP), Salma Laiqa, an ESG analyst at CNBC Indonesia Research, said the increase was in line with a surge in rice procurement, following higher farmer output. Farmers produced 43.9 million tonnes of dry milled paddy from 8.32 million hectares of rice fields.

Support also came from subsidised fertiliser prices, with 9.8 million tonnes of subsidised fertiliser allocated, including NPK and urea. So why are rice prices still high even as stocks rise? What effect will the surge in rice reserves have on farmers’ welfare amid the threat of El Niño? These issues were discussed by Shania Alatas and Salma Laiqa, an ESG analyst at CNBC Indonesia Research, on Squawk Box, CNBC Indonesia, on Thursday, 22 October 2026.