Farmer Unions Urge Stronger Rice Reserves to Prevent Crop Failure

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Farmers Union has called for stronger national rice reserves as a precaution against the risk of crop failure, particularly amid unpredictable weather conditions.

Henry Saragih, chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Union, said Indonesia must maintain substantial food reserves as a safeguard, especially during the rainy season, when production outcomes remain uncertain.

“As a large country, we need to have large food reserves. It is currently the rainy season, and we cannot predict whether there will be surplus production this year,” Henry said in an interview with RRI’s Pro3 channel on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

He said Indonesia should maintain a minimum food reserve of at least 10 percent, adding that recent studies suggest the figure should be closer to 30 percent to ensure food security.

“We must review and improve our reserves. At the moment, we only have food reserves of slightly over 10 percent,” he said.

The call comes as the government projects a major shift in Indonesia’s rice trade balance. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman said Indonesia is expected to begin exporting rice as early as April this year.

“It is almost certain that we will change the paradigm from being a rice-importing country to a rice-exporting country this year. Hopefully, this can be realized in April,” the minister said during the second day of the Indonesian Journalists Association’s State Defense Retreat at the National Defense Competency Center in Rumpin, Bogor, West Java.

If achieved, the plan would mark a significant milestone for Indonesian agriculture, given that the country was still importing 4.52 million tons of rice as recently as 2024. ​(Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)​