He made the statement while delivering a State Address at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) in Jakarta on Friday.
"For the first time in decades, Indonesia has resumed exporting rice and corn. I have seen it everywhere — our farmers are smiling because the price of unhusked rice remains stable, and their incomes have increased," Prabowo stated.
Before all parliament members, he explained that this achievement was the result of the government's food security programs implemented over the past 10 months. Indonesia now enjoys a rice production surplus, with national reserves exceeding 4 million tons — the highest level in the country's history.
"No strong nation can survive without producing its own food. That's why my administration is working hard to reduce import dependence by opening millions of hectares of new rice fields in Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Sumatra, Papua, and other regions," Prabowo stressed.
In addition to expanding agricultural land, he said the government is intensifying food production by empowering rural communities, streamlining fertilizer distribution directly to farmers, and providing agricultural equipment assistance.
"We have also raised the purchase price of unhusked rice to Rp6,500 (around 40 US cents) per kilogram so that farmers, as producers, can earn meaningful profits," he added.
He reiterated the government's firm stance against business actors engaging in manipulation, fraud, and other deceptive practices, citing cases of regular-quality rice being sold in premium packaging.
"To protect Indonesian consumers, the government I lead will remain vigilant against fraud, manipulation, stockpiling, and withholding of food distribution. My administration will always act firmly against those who break the rules," Prabowo stated.
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Translator: Genta Tenri Mawangi, Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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