The Indonesian government is currently checking out Indonesia’s rice excess to assist humanitarian missions, like aid to Palestine, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono declared. “There is one scheme that is being discussed regarding our effort to use this rice surplus for humanitarian missions in Africa, Palestine, and other countries,” he stated in Karawang, West Java, on Thursday. The government is formulating a plan to assist international humanitarian missions with its rice surplus. “We are currently calculating our food reserves to determine how much we can allocate for humanitarian assistance. This abundant harvest should be managed properly,” he added.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman previously revealed that the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) stock had hit 3,701,006 tons, making Indonesia the top rice producer in the ASEAN region, with production on the rise. The stock reinforces Indonesia’s position as the biggest rice producer in the ASEAN region, outperforming major countries like Thailand and Vietnam. This outcome is backed by an official report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which positions Indonesia as the primary rice producer in Southeast Asia.
In line with the USDA Rice Outlook April 2025 report, Indonesia’s rice production for the 2024-2025 planting season is projected to hit 34.6 million tons, a 600 thousand tons increase from the previous projection and a 4.8 percent rise over last year. Indonesia’s rice stock, currently at 3.7 million tons, is the highest since Bulog was established in 1969. It is set to peak at 4 million tons, setting a new record for national food security and showcasing the state’s commitment to supporting farmers. Sudaryono also expressed willingness to export rice to Malaysia. “We are still figuring this out. From our initial discussion, we can export two thousand tons per month to Malaysia,” he mentioned.
Maybe it’s just me, but this rice surplus situation in Indonesia seems to be a big deal. I’m not really sure why this matters, but the government is looking into using their excess rice to help out countries in need, like Palestine and those in Africa. Deputy Minister Sudaryono seems pretty confident about this plan, mentioning that they are calculating their food reserves to see how much they can actually allocate for humanitarian aid. On the bright side, Indonesia is really killing it in the rice production game, surpassing countries like Thailand and Vietnam. The USDA even backs them up, ranking Indonesia as the top rice producer in Southeast Asia.
Seems like Indonesia is on a roll with their rice production, hitting 34.6 million tons for the upcoming planting season. With the rice stock at a whopping 3.7 million tons, it’s clear that Indonesia is serious about their food security and supporting local farmers. And hey, they’re even considering exporting rice to Malaysia. Not bad, Indonesia, not bad at all.
