Indonesia said it has stopped importing rice after building up record stocks of 3.7 million tonnes, and guaranteed that domestic demand will be fully met.
Indonesian Agriculture Minister, Amran Sulaiman, said the rice stock is significantly higher than the usual level of two million tonnes.
The official news agency, ANTARA, quoted Sulaiman as saying “currently, all rice in the market is locally produced.”
He added that the government expanded rice fields and actively support them by providing agricultural equipment and building storage facilities to ensure stable supplies.
Suleiman also symbolically launched rice distribution programmes in six provinces, aimed at ensuring food security and stabilising prices.
Meanwhile, Indonesian authorities plan to develop 20,000 hectares for rice cultivation this year, with a total target of 100,000 hectares, which will require an investment of around U.S.195 million dollars, as the Ministry of Agriculture pledged to provide the needed support.
