"We will not let (a situation arise wherein) the people (have to) queue up for rice, as has occurred in the Philippines, or panicking, just like in Malaysia and Japan. With sufficient reserves and a resilient distribution system, Indonesia serves as an example of global food resilience," Sulaiman affirmed in his statement on Friday.
Nonetheless, Indonesia must continue to expedite efforts to achieve rice self-sufficiency and bolster the national food reserves to mitigate climate crisis-triggered global food crisis and distribution challenges.
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He stressed that the panic, palpable in the Philippines, Japan, and Malaysia, serves as a "wake-up call" for Indonesia to act faster in maintaining food resilience.
The minister drew attention to the Japanese authority's decision to release, for the first time in their history, 210 thousand tons of rice from its emergency rice reserves of one million tons due to rising rice prices in the country.
"The rice price in Japan rose 82 percent in one year from ¥2.023/kg to ¥3.688/kg. This has been the direct consequence of extreme heat waves that disrupt production and distribution," Sulaiman noted.
Meanwhile, the minister noted that in Malaysia, rice scarcity has triggered panic among members of the public as dwindling stocks led to price increases, while the cost of imported rice has placed an additional burden on the people.
"The conditions in Malaysia showed that disruption in food stocks can cause social unrest. Food is not merely a basic need for the people but also a key factor in national stability," he stressed.
He remarked that the Philippine government declared a food emergency since February 2025 due to a significant increase in rice prices, specifically noting a 24.4 percent rise in rice inflation, which is the highest rate recorded in 15 years.
He stated that cases in neighboring countries reflected the need for assured rice stocks, adding that Indonesia should strengthen its domestic rice production and gradually reduce its dependence on rice imports.
Moreover, according to the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data for February 2025, the medium rice price in Indonesia is Rp13-14 thousand per kg, lower than the highest price of Rp16 thousand in 2024.
To maintain rice stocks and price stability, Sulaiman remarked that President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the state logistics firm Bulog to buy three million tons of rice from farmers, a step he called "strategic."
"With this large-scale purchase, we are not only ensuring farmers to have their products priced fairly but also help the nation strengthen its rice stocks amid global dynamics," the minister remarked.
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Translator: M Harianto, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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