Indonesia Achieves Rice Self-Sufficiency as Prabowo Targets Global Food Leadership
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JAKARTA, investortrust.id — Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman has announced that Indonesia has achieved rice self-sufficiency, fulfilling President Prabowo Subianto’s ambitious target within a year of his administration. If weather conditions remain stable, Indonesia will not need to import rice next year, marking a historic milestone in national food policy.
Speaking after a limited cabinet meeting on economic affairs led by President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, Oct 9, 2025, Amran said, “Alhamdulillah, if there are no obstacles or extreme weather, Indonesia will no longer import rice within the next two to three months. We are now self-sufficient.”
Amran’s announcement came less than a year after his reappointment as agriculture minister on Oct 20, 2024. He revealed that President Prabowo initially set a four-year target for food self-sufficiency, which was later shortened to three years, and then one year after just 45 days of his tenure.
“The President first gave me four years to achieve food self-sufficiency, especially rice. After 21 days, it became three years. After 45 days, the target changed again to one year. Today, that target has been met,” Amran said.
The announcement was supported by data showing a surge in national rice production. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), domestic rice output reached 33.1 million tons as of November 2025 and was projected to climb to 34 million tons by year-end, up nearly 4 million tons from 30.6 million tons in 2024. “Our production increase is the second-largest in the world after Brazil, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization,” Amran said.
Amran emphasized that the success in boosting production was accompanied by improved farmer welfare. The farmer’s terms of trade index (NTP) reached 124.36 in September 2025, surpassing the government’s target of 110. Meanwhile, rice prices recorded a deflation of 0.13% in September — the first decline in five years.
The agriculture minister also highlighted the downstreaming agenda as the next phase of Prabowo’s food-sovereignty vision. The government is accelerating value-added processing for agricultural commodities, particularly coconut, cocoa, palm oil, and gambir, to increase export earnings and create jobs.
“We are accelerating the downstreaming of cocoa, cashew, coconut, and pepper. Coconut alone reached 33 million tons this year from 29 million last year. We will no longer export raw coconuts. Instead, we will process them into coconut milk and virgin coconut oil, which can increase value by 100 times,” he said.
Downstreaming Push
Amran estimated that downstreaming in the coconut industry alone could generate Rp 2,400 trillion in export value, even if only half of that target is achieved. “If we take an average, even half of that could yield Rp 1,200 trillion in foreign exchange,” he added.
He also pointed to downstreaming in palm oil, particularly in state-controlled plantations, where fresh fruit bunches are processed into biofuel, cooking oil, margarine, and butter. “The added value must stay in Indonesia. If we continue this, it will create jobs, reduce poverty, and improve welfare,” Amran said.
The ministry has allocated an additional budget of Rp 9.95 trillion to support the downstreaming drive, focusing on free seeds and seedlings for farmers nationwide. “We will provide cocoa, coffee, coconut, cashew, and nutmeg seeds across 800,000 hectares in Indonesia free of charge. This program will create 1.6 million new jobs within two years,” Amran said.
He added that the government is also reforming regulations to accelerate agricultural productivity. Seventeen presidential instructions (Inpres) have been issued to simplify fertilizer distribution, strengthen irrigation, and streamline bureaucratic procedures.
“Previously, fertilizer distribution required the signatures of 12 ministers, 38 governors, and 514 regents. Now, producers can send directly to farmers through just three steps,” Amran explained.
Through these combined efforts — self-sufficiency, downstreaming, and regulatory overhaul — Amran expressed confidence that Indonesia is on track to achieve Prabowo’s next dream: becoming a global food hub within three years. “Our greatest dream is for Indonesia to become the world’s food barn. God willing, it will come true within three years,” he said.