Prabowo Says Next Year Indonesia Will No Longer Import Rice

President Prabowo Subianto. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto believes Indonesia will no longer import rice next year.

This certainty is due to the increasing national food production.

"And I have very high probability and confidence that by 2025, we will no longer import rice," Prabowo said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, December 2.

He also wants Indonesia to no longer import food commodities in the future, because the Head of State is optimistic that Indonesia will be stronger in the food sector.

"The more in the future we will be stronger in this (food) field. We will not only be free from rice imports, but we must be free from imports of all food commodities," said Prabowo.

Prabowo expressed his gratitude to the team of the Coordinating Minister for Food and all the ministers dealing with food. In the last limited meeting a few days ago, the Head of State admitted that he received a very encouraging presentation.

"Our food production has increased, our food reserves may be the largest over the past few years. What is in our warehouse, I think is close to 2 million tons," said Prabowo.

The President conveyed that there is sufficient food reserves.

According to him, this is thanks to the hard work of the cabinet members and the head of the agency.

"My appreciation also to the Minister of Agriculture and his team, Bulog, the National Food Agency, all elements of the Minister of SOEs and SOEs who are under the supervision of the Minister of SOEs. Thank you for our steps at the end of 2024," he explained.

Prabowo also thanked the Minister of Home Affairs for helping control inflation monitoring.

Prabowo is also grateful for the support of the previous President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, so that the current government is able to overcome the challenges this year which are not easy, such as El Nino as well as La Nina.

"The season is dry, but we are able to overcome it, able to face it in the midst of geopolitical atmospheres that are not light. Geopolitical problems affect food problems," said Prabowo.

Prabowo said that if there is a tension and crisis, countries that usually export food will stop their exports.

"This is a phenomenon that has happened many times. Therefore, thank God we are now in a stronger position," said Prabowo.