Zulhas Wanti-wanti Regional Heads: Indonesia's 2025 Rice Deficit

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

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs (Menko Pangan) Zulkifli Hasan warned regional heads that Indonesia would lack rice stock at the beginning of next year. Therefore, he asked regional heads to be prepared to face this phenomenon.

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

Based on the data presented, the production-consumption ratio 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 has decreased by 2.44 percent on an annual basis or year on year (yoy).

Meanwhile, total rice consumption in 2024 will reach 30.92 million tons. This figure is 310.000 tons higher or 1.01 percent compared to the same period the previous year.

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

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

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