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March 13, 2025 | 04:54 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has set an ambitious goal to cease rice imports by achieving a minimum production surplus of 5 to 6 million tons this year. According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, this target is crucial for national self-sufficiency.
"Because the rice production is typically between 30 to 31 million tons annually, a surplus of at least 5-6 million tons throughout the year is needed to completely halt rice imports," Sudaryono said in his official statement on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
Sudaryono, who also serves as the Chair of the Gerindra Party's Central Java regional leadership council, revealed that national rice production through April 2025 has already surpassed the previous year's figures, showing a surplus of approximately 2.8 to 3 million tons. He emphasized that the President has urged the maintenance of this positive trend, especially given the current food crises affecting several nations, including Malaysia, the Philippines, and Japan, which are experiencing rice shortages.
Therefore, he explained that a recent meeting with the Head of State focused on strategies to enhance long-term rice production. The government aims to ensure Indonesia's independence from rice imports by consistently maintaining an annual surplus of around 5-6 million tons.
To achieve this production increase, Sudaryono highlighted the government's emphasis on accelerating the agricultural process. He called for farmers to immediately replant after harvesting, enabling them to achieve up to three harvests per year.
"As soon as the harvest season arrives, the crops must be harvested promptly, sold quickly, and the land must be cultivated immediately. The period between harvest and land cultivation should not be long," he stressed.
The meeting also addressed the role of Red and White Village Cooperatives in distributing agricultural products and providing farmers with essential supplies, such as fertilizer, pesticides, and groceries, at affordable prices. Sudaryono mentioned that the government will optimize market operations and streamline the distribution chain to reduce prices for consumers without negatively impacting farmers' incomes.
"By shortening the distribution chain, eliminating unnecessary intermediaries, we hope to ensure fair prices for both consumers and producers," said the Chairperson of the Indonesian Market Traders' Association.
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