JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – President Prabowo Subianto expressed confidence that Indonesia would not need to import rice in 2025, citing a significant boost in domestic production. Addressing a Cabinet Plenary Meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, he revealed that the country’s rice reserves had reached nearly 2 million tons—the highest in recent years.

“We are approaching 2 million tons in storage, which gives me strong confidence that in 2025, we will not need to import rice,” Prabowo stated during the meeting attended by all ministers, deputy ministers, and agency heads. He commended his cabinet for their efforts in achieving this milestone.

The president highlighted that the robust stockpile was a result of strategic policies implemented by the administration of his predecessor, President Joko Widodo. Prabowo praised Jokowi’s government for effectively mitigating the impacts of extreme weather phenomena such as La Niña and El Niño, which have often disrupted food security.

“Our progress at the end of 2024 owes much to the strong foundation laid by President Joko Widodo,” Prabowo remarked. He added that Indonesia’s strengthened food reserves have positioned the country favorably amid global geopolitical uncertainties that frequently disrupt food supply chains.

Geopolitical tensions, Prabowo noted, have led many major food-exporting nations to halt their shipments. “This is a recurring phenomenon, and our preparedness ensures we are not overly dependent on external sources,” he said, emphasizing the importance of self-sufficiency.

Supporting Prabowo’s optimism, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, reported that the nation’s rice stock is currently at its highest level in five years. He projected that rice production in 2025 could reach 32 million tons, further solidifying the country’s food security.