JAKARTA: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has expressed confidence that Indonesia is on course to becoming a major global food supplier, citing strong agricultural growth, rising rice production, and increasing international demand for the country’s food commodities and agricultural inputs.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Meninting Dam in West Lombok on Friday, President Prabowo said Indonesia is rapidly transforming from a food-importing nation into a potential agricultural powerhouse with expanding export opportunities.”We are moving from importing food to exporting it,” he said, adding that several countries have approached Indonesia to supply strategic agricultural products, including urea fertilizer.According to the president, nations such as Australia, Brazil, the Philippines, and India have requested Indonesia to export urea, reflecting growing international confidence in the country’s agricultural sector.
Prabowo said the government’s focus on strengthening food security and boosting agricultural productivity is enabling Indonesia to play an increasingly important role in the global food supply chain. He stressed that efforts to accelerate agricultural development will continue to ensure national food self-sufficiency while positioning Indonesia as a reliable international food supplier.”Indonesia is proving, without much fanfare, that it is a rising nation and will continue to rise,” he remarked.Meanwhile, data released by Indonesia’s National Food Agency (Bapanas) shows a significant increase in rice production during the first half of 2026.
The agency reported that domestic procurement of unhusked rice from farmers reached 3.3 million tons during the period.In the first quarter of 2026, Indonesia produced 9.63 million tons of rice against domestic consumption of 7.76 million tons, resulting in a surplus of approximately 1.86 million tons. Of this, the state logistics agency Bulog absorbed the equivalent of 1.46 million tons of rice for government reserves, while the remaining supply supported commercial market inventories.For the January–June 2026 period, national rice production is projected to reach 19.27 million tons, exceeding estimated consumption of 15.48 million tons and generating a surplus of nearly 3.79 million tons.Bapanas also reported that Indonesia’s total rice reserves, including the Government Rice Reserve (CBP), have now reached approximately five million tons, reinforcing the country’s food security and strengthening its ambition to emerge as a leading global food producer and exporter.
