"There is one scheme that is being discussed regarding our effort to utilize this rice surplus for humanitarian missions in Africa, Palestine, and other countries," he remarked in Karawang, West Java, on Thursday.
According to the minister, the government is formulating a scheme to assist international humanitarian missions with its rice surplus.
"We are currently calculating our food reserves to determine how much we can allocate (for humanitarian assistance). This abundant harvest should be managed properly," he remarked.
Earlier, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman announced that the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) stock had reached 3,701,006 tons, making Indonesia the leading rice producer in the ASEAN region, with production continuing to increase.
He noted that the stock strengthens Indonesia's position as the largest rice producer in the ASEAN region, surpassing major countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.
This result is strengthened by an official report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which ranks Indonesia as the top rice producer in Southeast Asia.
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Based on the USDA Rice Outlook April 2025 report, Indonesia's rice production for the 2024-2025 planting season is estimated to reach 34.6 million tons, up by 600 thousand tons from the previous projection and a 4.8 percent increase over last year.
Indonesia's rice stock, which has reached 3.7 million tons, is the highest since Bulog was founded in 1969. It is also estimated to peak at 4 million tons, setting a new record for national food security and demonstrating the state's commitment to supporting farmers.
Sudaryono also expressed readiness to export rice to Malaysia.
"We are still arranging this. From our initial discussion, we can export two thousand tons per month for Malaysia," he stated.
Related news: Govt plans 25,000 emergency warehouses for surplus produce
Translator: Aji Cakti, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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