Indonesia Records Highest-Ever Rice Reserves, Ensures Supply During Dry Season

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has recorded its highest-ever national rice reserves amid growing global concerns over climate change, prolonged dry seasons, and disruptions to global food supply chains.

Quoting the official website of Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture, national rice procurement had reached 2.8 million tons, or around 70 percent of this year’s 4 million-ton target. Meanwhile, national rice reserves surpassed 5.37 million tons.

The achievement was announced by Vice Agriculture, Minister Sudaryono, during a working meeting with Commission IV of the House of Representatives at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

“Rice procurement from January to May 18 reached 2.8 million tons, while national rice reserves reached 5.37 million tons. This is the highest stock level in the history of the Republic of Indonesia,” he said.

According to him, the achievement reflects Indonesia’s strengthening food security amid global challenges ranging from climate change to geopolitical tensions affecting global food supplies. He added that the government continues to strengthen food self-sufficiency through rice procurement programs, farmer protection measures, and the expansion of government rice reserves.

“Indonesia continues to strengthen national food self-sufficiency to ensure that people’s needs are met under any circumstances,” he stated.

Despite the increase in rice reserves, the government is also strengthening national food stocks in anticipation of the 2026 dry season, which is forecast to peak in August and could affect food production in several regions.

Based on forecasts from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the dry season began in April in parts of Nusa Tenggara and is expected to spread to other regions in the coming months, with peak dry conditions expected in August.

To maintain supply stability and food prices, the government is strengthening national rice reserves through grain procurement programs and price protection policies for farmers.