Indonesia Deliberates Rice Exports to Neighbors, No Final Decision Yet

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso stated that the limited coordination meeting (rakortas) of the Ministry of Coordinating Human Development and Culture did not discuss the plan for rice exports. "So far, there has been no rakortas," said Budi to reporters when met in the Cikupa area, Tangerang Regency, on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

On the other hand, the Head of the National Food Security Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, revealed that Indonesia has exported specialty rice to several countries, including Saudi Arabia. The rice is used for specific needs such as hotels, restaurants, and catering. "Indeed, Indonesia has recently exported specialty rice to Saudi Arabia and other places," Arief said in a written statement on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

He stated that Prabowo has approved regular rice exports, especially to assist neighboring countries experiencing shortages. However, according to Arief, the government is currently focused on preparing the government rice reserves (CBP).

He believes regular rice exports can resume when production stabilizes and government food reserves are sufficient or relatively safer. "President Prabowo is committed to assisting other countries in need. However, the main priority remains strengthening domestic food security," Arief said.

Former CEO of PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia confirmed that the current rice stock of 3.7 million tons is sufficient to meet government needs, especially approaching the second semester of 2025. This stock comes from a 2024 stock transfer of 1.8 million tons, plus an estimated 2025 production surplus of around 8 million tons.

The CBP is prepared to meet various government needs, including food aid and market intervention through the Food Supply and Price Stabilization Program (SPHP). "President Prabowo Subianto requires us to have government food reserves of around 3.7 to 3.8 million tons by the end of this month," said the former Head of the Supervisory Board of the Perum Bulog.

Arief stated that the government is committed to maintaining national production sustainability by planting a minimum of 1 million hectares of rice per month, strengthening irrigation channels, and improving production quality through intensification, extensification, and food diversification efforts. "We must be able to plant a minimum of 1 million hectares every month because the national monthly requirement is around 2.5 to 2.6 million tons per hectare," Arief revealed.

Arief said the government will selectively intervene if there is a burdening price increase for consumers, while ensuring that prices at the farmer level do not fall below Rp6,500 per kilogram. Therefore, Bapanas has tasked Perum Bulog with the gradual and careful distribution of rice, especially during the June-July period when producer prices are decreasing.

The government is educating farmers, especially those who will participate in the CBP scheme, on how to maintain the quality of paddy. "The effectiveness of government rice reserve storage and distribution depends on post-harvest quality," he said.

Han Revanda contributed to the writing of this article

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