Zulhas Warns Regional Heads: Indonesia Will Have Rice Deficit in 2025

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (Photo: Doc. VOI)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food (Menko Pangan) Zulkifli Hasan warned regional heads that Indonesia will have a rice shortage early next year. Therefore, he asked regional heads to prepare for the phenomenon.

"This is the previous experience of the regents, governors, we will talk together. In January to February, we will have a shortage of harvest (rice) which will be far from the needs of January-February," he said in a coordination meeting between the central and regional governments in 2024, quoted from the Ministry of Home Affairs' YouTube, Thursday, November 7.

Based on the data presented, the production-consumption balance for the January-December 2024 period experienced a deficit of 222.92 percent when compared to the previous year. From 1.07 million tons in 2023 to 590,000 tons in 2024.

Meanwhile, total rice production throughout 2024 is targeted to reach 30.34 million tons. The production target figure experienced a 2.44 percent decrease on an annual basis or year on year (yoy).

Meanwhile, total rice consumption in 2024 reached 30.92 million tons. This figure is 310,000 tons or 1.01 percent higher than the same period the previous year.

Reflecting on the data, the man who is familiarly called Zulhas also asked regional heads to find a way out of the rice production problem. On the other hand, he also hopes that there will be no fluctuations in the price of staple foods next year.

"Because there is a shortage of rice production, what should we do? Should we continue food aid or is there other input?" he said.

"We hope there will be no high inflation and fluctuations in staple foods. The key to success in self-sufficiency in 2028 is the work of all of us," he continued.