Menko Zulhas Says the February Raya Harvest is Advanced, 4 Million Tons of Rice Stock is Prepared

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) said that the national rice harvest is expected to take place earlier starting in February 2026 with an increase in production projections of around 5-10 percent compared to the previous period.

He said the acceleration of the harvest was the basis for the government to strengthen the readiness of national rice stocks to maintain the stability of supply and food prices in the country.

"If in the past the harvest was in March, now February has started, continuing in February, March, April, and production is expected to be higher," said Zulhas as reported by ANTARA, Monday, January 12.

Along with the projected increase in production, the government has prepared a Government Rice Reserve (CBP) of 4 million tons which is planned to be maintained sustainably until 2029.

He explained that the increase in national rice stocks requires adequate storage infrastructure support, given that Bulog's warehouse capacity is currently limited compared to the absorption of domestic production.

For this reason, he continued, the government plans to add around 100 new Bulog warehouses to accommodate national rice stocks, especially ahead of and during the harvest period.

"We have completed the substance for the Presidential Instruction (Inpres), we will build another 100, Bulog is tasked with building warehouses to accommodate," said Zulhas.

The construction of the warehouse will involve the support of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) so that the construction process can be carried out faster and completed on time according to operational needs.

In addition to relying on Bulog warehouses, the government is also encouraging the use of the Red and White Village/Village Cooperative as part of the food storage and distribution network at the local level.

Zulhas said that it was hoped that village and sub-district cooperatives would play a role as distribution nodes, as well as supporting the absorption of farmers' harvest in the area.

"We will add Bulog warehouses, and village cooperatives can also be used as part of storage and distribution," he said.

Currently, based on the exposure of the Ministry, approximately 26,000 Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperatives are currently in the process of being developed as part of strengthening the national food supply chain.

The government targets that the cooperative not only serves as a physical building, but also as a center for village economic activities that are integrated with the national food system.

Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono said that the physical construction of the 26,000 cooperatives is expected to be completed in April 2026.

"It is being built, it will be in April. Now we are inventorying the land, then adding more, so on. We are now accelerating the procurement of land," said Ferry.

Through the acceleration of the harvest, strengthening of rice stocks, and the addition of storage infrastructure, the government hopes that the stability of rice supply and prices can be better maintained, while supporting the strengthening of national food security.