Indonesia says rice stocks will stay ample through 2027 despite El Niño

At a food-coordination forum in Jakarta, Agriculture Minister Amran affirmed that Indonesia has maintained self-sufficiency in rice for two consecutive years, importing none. He cited Bulog’s reserves of roughly 4.5 million metric tons, plus standing crops and stock held by households and the Horeca sector, each estimated at 10 million tons, bringing total availability to about 25 million tons. With national consumption averaging 2.5 million tons per month, the supply should last through July or August 2027.

To guard against El Niño-related drought, the government will implement water-pumping programs, optimize land use, repair irrigation infrastructure and distribute drought-tolerant seed varieties. These steps aim to sustain domestic rice production and keep the country’s food security intact during peak demand periods.