Agriculture Minister Amran Says Field Optimization A Factor in Increasing Indonesian Rice Production

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that, based on predictions from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), national rice production by October 2025 will increase by around 3.27 million tons compared to the same period the previous year.

According to Amran, one of the driving factors behind this increase in domestic rice production is land optimization or agricultural land utilization.

"That was October, our production, by October, according to BPS, (the BPS prediction) is that our October production will reach 31 million tons. So, it's an increase of 3.27 million tons. That's good news. (The driving factor is) production, especially land utilization. Land optimization," Amran said when met at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs office in Jakarta on Monday, September 1.

However, Amran noted that there are also other factors, such as the positive impact of government-driven agricultural irrigation.

"Part of it (irrigation), but what really drives production is land optimization. Previously, we planted twice or even three times," he said.

Previously, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) estimated that domestic rice production would also increase by 12.16 percent compared to 27.67 million tons from January to October 2024.

"Rice production from January to October 2025 is estimated to reach 31.04 million tons, or 12.16 percent compared to the same period in 2024," said BPS Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics, Pudji Ismartini, in a virtual press conference on Monday, September 1.

Based on BPS data, this figure consists of 1.26 million tons in January 2025; 2.26 million tons in February 2025; and 5.23 million tons in March 2025. Then, 5.23 million tons of rice in April 2025.

Furthermore, 2.87 million tons in May 2025, 2.28 million tons in June 2025, 2.77 million tons in July 2025, and 3.27 million tons in August 2025. Furthermore, rice production is estimated at 3.14 million tons in September 2025 and 2.70 million tons in October 2025.

However, Pudji emphasized that the actual figures could be higher or lower than the potential figures.

"It depends on the condition of the rice plants from August to October this year," he said.