Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono during a press conference after opneing a seminar organised by agriculture students in Jakarta on September 10. (Photo: ANTARA)
Indonesian government remains committed to its no-rice-import policy this year, while still allowing imports of specific types of rice required by certain restaurants.
Addressing the press in Jakarta on September 10, Indonesian Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono stressed that imported rice is only for certain restaurants.
According to the deputy minister, Indonesia will not permit rice inflows for general consumption, as domestic production has proven sufficient.
He explained that a no-import policy is aimed at rice designated for public consumption. For instance, the country is not importing medium-grade rice.
In addition to rice, Sudaryono stressed that Indonesia is resolute in prohibiting imports of corn and table sugar in 2025, and is determined to optimise domestic production through pro-farmer policies in pursuit of food self-sufficiency.
He noted that President Prabowo Subianto had directed his aides to follow this path, and Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman had been working hard to support the directive.
Statistics show that Indonesia's rice stocks in early September had reached around 4 million tonnes, significantly higher than the 1–2 million tonnes recorded last year.
VNA
