Gov’t Strengthens Food Security by Achieving Rice Self-Sufficiency

Sufficient food availability is one of the main pillars of a nation’s self-sufficiency. For Indonesia, rice self-sufficiency is more than increasing rice production volume but also ensuring that food reserves are secured and farmers have all the supports needed to increase their productivity.

During 2025, the national rice production reached 34.69 million tons, reflecting Indonesia’s success in achieving self-sufficiency in rice faster than the target set for four years. This achievement also serves as a milestone in strengthening national security and reducing dependency to exported rice.

National rice availability has also been bolstered by stronger government rice reserves, which reached 4.61 million tons as of September 19, 2026. Meanwhile, national rice availability in September 2026 was estimated at 26.91 million tons, which is enough to meet domestic demand for approximately 310 days.

These achievements was made possible since the Government has carrying on reforms spanning the entire agricultural supply chain, from providing production inputs and simplify subsidized fertilizer distribution lines to strengthening the domestic fertilizer industry.

Regarding the deregulation of subsidized fertilizer distribution, the Government has simplified distribution lines to enable fertilizer to reach farmers more directly from producers, while making the process more efficient and strengthening oversight. The policy is expected to help farmers access the right type and quantity of fertilizer at the right time for the planting season.

The Government has also cut the highest retail price (HET) of subsidized fertilizer by up to 20 percent and increased the subsidized fertilizer allocation by 700,000 tons. These measures are intended to help farmers cutting production costs while supporting higher agricultural productivity.

These efforts reflected President Prabowo Subianto’s directives on food security as a cornerstone of national independence. The President underscored that food self-sufficiency is essential for a nation to stand on its own.

“No nation can be truly independent if it cannot ensure that its people have food to eat. A nation cannot be independent if its food supply depends on other countries,” he said at the Grand Harvest and Food Self-Sufficiency Announcement event in Karawang regency, West Java province, on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

Therefore, rice self-sufficiency is a concrete step toward strengthening national food security. As the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka approaches its second anniversary, the Government affirmed its efforts to build a more self-reliant and resilient food system through rising production, stronger rice reserves, and improved fertilizer governance.

Through sustained production, more efficient fertilizer distribution, and a stronger domestic industry, the Government continues to safeguard food security over the long term while ensuring that its benefits reach communities across the country. (PR of Ministry of Agriculture- PR of Ministry of State Secretariat) (RAS/AW)