Minister Of Agriculture Amran: National Rice Production Reaches 30 Million Tons Until December 2024

Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman said that the total domestic rice production reached more than 30 million tons by the end of December 2024.

"Thank God, the last rice production was almost 31 million tons (until December 2024)," said the Minister of Agriculture when met after the Coordination Meeting with the Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Wakasad) Lt. Gen. Tandyo Budi R to realize food self-sufficiency at the Jakarta Ministry of Agriculture Office, quoted by Antara, Monday, December 30.

The Minister of Agriculture said that Indonesia's rice production this year experienced quite encouraging results despite natural challenges such as El Nino. Even so, he did not mention in detail rice production in 2024.

Amran revealed that the total rice production is close to 31 million tons. This result is encouraging, given several extreme weather factors that occur throughout the year.

"This year (rice production) is more than 30 million tons, if I'm not mistaken we are only minus 500 thousand tons from the previous year. Even though there is El Nino, there is La Nina, there is drought," said the Minister of Agriculture.

At the beginning of the year, it is projected that there is a potential for a large deficit in rice production. Initial projections even mentioned the possibility of a shortage of rice supply could reach around 5 million tons.

This is due to the impact of the weather phenomena of El Nino and La Nina which have caused significant drought and climate disturbances in several rice-producing areas.

However, despite this threat, the Minister of Agriculture said that Indonesia's rice production had only decreased slightly, which was around 500 thousand tons from the previous year.

"What we plan to do in the past is predict it could be a deficit of around 5 million tons. But thank God this is only 500 thousand tons or 0.5 million tons," said the Minister of Agriculture.

On the previous occasion, the Minister of Agriculture believed that Indonesia in 2025 would be free from rice imports, considering that production in that year was targeted at 32 million tons.

His party is currently targeting to achieve food self-sufficiency as soon as possible according to President Prabowo Subianto's direction in Astacita.

"If self-sufficiency is no longer imported. It's looking for more problems," said the Minister of Agriculture Tuesday (26/11).

He explained that production in 2025 will increase on an annual basis by 1 million tons compared to 2024. So that he can ensure that it can meet domestic needs.

Meanwhile, referring to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), rice harvest area in 2024 is estimated at 10.05 million hectares, this figure has decreased by 167.25 thousand hectares or 1.64 percent compared to the rice harvest area in 2023 which was 10.21 million hectares.

Meanwhile, rice production this year is estimated at 52.66 million tons of milled dry unhulled rice (GKG), a decrease of 1.32 million tons of GKG or 2.45 percent compared to rice production in the previous year which was 53.98 million tons of GKG.

As for rice production in 2024 for food consumption, an estimated population of around 30.34 million tons, decreased by 757.13 thousand tons or 2.43 percent compared to rice production in 2023 which was 31.10 million tons.