Indonesia says food security remains firm amid global pressure
Indonesia’s food agency says domestic production is covering most staple demand, allowing the country to limit imports to only a small group of strategic commodities.
Indonesia’s National Food Agency said on April 12 that the country’s strategic food security remains firm despite geopolitical tension and the risk of El Niño. I Gusti Ketut Astawa, deputy for food availability and stabilization at Bapanas, said in Jakarta that most public needs are still being met by domestic production, which has helped cushion the food system from external pressure.
Astawa said the Bapanas National Food Balance Projection for 2026 shows that Indonesia needs imports for only three of its 10 strategic staple commodities. Domestic supplies are expected to be sufficient for household demand for rice, corn, chilies, chicken meat, eggs and sugar. That matters because these are among the products most closely tied to food inflation and day-to-day consumer stability across the country.
He also pointed to a positive trend in rice production. According to the agency, output reached around 34.7 million tonnes last year, and Indonesia entered 2026 with carry-over stocks of about 12 million tonnes. Based on those figures, the government projects rice stocks of roughly 16 million tonnes by the end of 2026 if production stays at 34.7 million tonnes and consumption comes in at 31.1 million tonnes.
State logistics agency Bulog has been instructed to prioritize buying rice from local farmers as part of the food self-sufficiency agenda. Indonesia has therefore halted rice imports since 2025. Astawa said Bulog’s rice reserves already exceed four million tonnes and that the agency is targeting procurement of another four million tonnes, a combination that should further reinforce domestic supply buffers.
The official also said Indonesia has made progress toward corn self-sufficiency, noting that imports of corn for animal feed stopped last year. Imports of strategic staples are now limited to soybeans, garlic and beef, while the government continues efforts to raise domestic production in those sectors as well. The goal is to reduce dependence on foreign supply at a time when international disruptions can quickly spill over into food markets.
Earlier, Bapanas head and Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman told lawmakers that Indonesia had already achieved self-sufficiency in several commodities tied to protein and carbohydrate intake. The latest agency update suggests the government is relying not only on current harvests but also on managed state procurement and reserve building to get through 2026 without reopening rice imports.