Jakarta – The government has reaffirmed its strong commitment to halting rice imports and achieving national food self-sufficiency by the end of 2025. This step marks a new chapter in the nation’s independence in the agricultural sector and is a clear demonstration of President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership in strengthening national food security.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the rice self-sufficiency target has been accelerated from four years to just one. He explained that this acceleration is the result of President Prabowo’s direct directive to ensure Indonesia no longer relies on strategic food imports.
“The President’s initial target for us was four years. After 21 days, it became three years, and after 45 days, it became one year. Thank God, if all goes well, Indonesia will no longer be importing in the next two to three months,” Amran said in Jakarta.
He added that this success is inseparable from the hard work of farmers throughout Indonesia and the support of pro-production policies from the government. President Prabowo is said to be very focused on food self-sufficiency and farmer welfare. “The President is truly focused on national food security. He wants farmers to prosper and Indonesia to be self-sufficient in food,” Amran explained.
In addition to increasing rice production, the Ministry of Agriculture is also strengthening downstream agricultural processes so that the added value of the harvest can be directly enjoyed by the Indonesian people. “We must no longer export raw materials. Everything must be processed domestically so that the added value can be enjoyed by farmers and the Indonesian people,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Daniel Johan, a member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), welcomed this significant achievement. According to him, the government’s success in reducing imports and recording the highest rice stocks in history is clear evidence of its commitment to building food sovereignty. “If our rice stocks are truly the highest in history, of course we should be grateful. But the most important thing is not just looking at stock figures, but also the quality of the rice consumed by the public,” said Daniel.
He emphasized that the government needs to strengthen oversight to prevent fraudulent practices such as adulterated rice in the market. Furthermore, Daniel emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between abundant stocks and prices that benefit farmers. “An abundant rice stock must be accompanied by good prices at the farm level. We must not let farmers suffer losses due to falling prices. We hope this situation will improve farmers’ prosperity, rather than simply being spectators as the country sets records,” he said.
Daniel also emphasized that true food security is not only measured by the size of rice reserves, but also by the sustainability of domestic production. He encouraged the government to strengthen support for farmers through access to fertilizer, technology, and capital.
With collaboration between the central and regional governments, and all agricultural sectors, Indonesia is now on the verge of a major achievement: ending rice imports and achieving national food self-sufficiency by the end of 2025. This is not only an economic achievement, but also a source of national pride that Indonesia is able to stand on its own two feet.
