JAKARTA: Indonesia aims to halt rice imports this year for the first time in decades, backed by a surge in domestic production and stockpiles, according to Vice Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono.
Driven by President Prabowo Subianto’s food self-sufficiency agenda, the country expects rice production to rise 11% in the first half of 2025, with national reserves more than doubling to 4 million tonnes in May. Annual output is targeted to reach 32.8 million tonnes, with a goal of 33.8 million tonnes in 2026.
“Having food security is like preventing people from getting sick—it’s cheaper than curing them,” said Sudaryono.
Indonesia, which imported a record 4.65 million tonnes of rice in 2023-24 due to El Niño-related crop damage, has long been dependent on imports, with records showing purchases every season since the 1960s.
The recent production boost—8.61 million tonnes in Q1 alone, up 53% year-on-year—has opened up the possibility of exports. Malaysia and the Philippines have reportedly requested to buy rice, with 1,000 tonnes currently being prepared for shipment to Sabah and Sarawak.
Efforts to sustain output include deploying 37,000 agriculture extension workers and assistance from the military. The government also plans to convert 500,000 hectares of swampland into farmland in 2025.
— BLOOMBERG
