With 3.7 Million Ton Rice Surplus, Agriculture Minister Says Land Optimization is Key to Boosting Production
JAKARTA – The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded that national rice production by October 2025 is estimated to reach 31.04 million tons. This figure exceeds national consumption needs, which are estimated at 27.3 million tons for the same period.
With this achievement, Indonesia recorded a rice production surplus of approximately 3.7 million tons. This increase in production is supported by the expansion of rice harvested areas, which now reach 10.22 million hectares, an 11.90 percent increase compared to the same period last year of 9.13 million hectares.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that this achievement is clear evidence of the success of the government's land optimization strategy.
"Land optimization is the key to significantly increasing rice production. From previously only being able to plant once a year, now the rice planting index can increase to two to three times a year," Amran said in an official statement on Tuesday, September 2.
Land optimization measures are being taken through the rehabilitation of idle land, more efficient irrigation management, the implementation of modern agricultural technology, and the utilization of suboptimal land such as swamps and drylands to increase productivity through innovative cultivation techniques.
In addition to land strategies, Amran continued, more favorable climate conditions this year also support farmer productivity. The simultaneous harvest in major production centers such as Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi further strengthens the target of a rice surplus by October 2025.
Optimism about this achievement also aligns with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which projects Indonesian rice production in the 2025/2026 planting season to reach 35.6 million tons.
Meanwhile, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in its April 2025 Rice Outlook report, estimates Indonesian rice production at 34.6 million tons, a 4.8 percent increase compared to the previous year. Both projections confirm Indonesia's position as one of the world's largest rice producers.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, with a surplus of 3.7 million tons by October 2025, Indonesia is on track to achieve rice self-sufficiency. This surplus not only serves as an important cushion to maintain price stability in the market, but also has a direct impact on improving farmers' welfare.