Speaking to the media at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Tuesday, he said that President Prabowo Subianto had summoned him to inquire about viable measures to optimize a potential surplus in rice production this year.
"Statistics Indonesia (BPS) has recently announced that our rice production over January, February, and March 2025 is expected to reach eight million tons, or 50 percent higher than the amount recorded last year," he informed.
The minister highlighted that by April this year, Indonesia's rice production is projected to reach up to 14 million tons, a surplus of four million tons.
He stressed that it is vital for state-run logistics company Bulog to immediately absorb the rice surplus to protect farmers from possible negative outcomes.
"The President has instructed us to expedite the absorption of unhusked rice to make the most of this favorable momentum," he said.
Further, he noted that the national average price of unhusked rice is still below the government purchase price (HPP) of Rp6,500 (US$0.39) per kilogram.
"Based on our observation, rice is offered at prices below HPP in 70 percent of provinces. Meanwhile, the commodity is sold at prices higher than HPP in the other provinces," he said.
He then underlined that the Ministry of Agriculture will synergize with Bulog and the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry to ensure the effective absorption of domestic rice.
"We will exert our utmost efforts to address this matter in collaboration with relevant stakeholders," he added.
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Translator: Andi F/Mentari D, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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