Majene, West Sulawesi. Indonesia's Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman urged the public to appreciate the country’s stable food prices, particularly rice, as neighboring and developed countries grapple with rising costs and supply shortages.

Speaking during a visit to Majene, West Sulawesi, on Sunday, Andi noted that while countries like Malaysia, the Philippines, and even Japan are struggling with rice availability, Indonesia has managed to keep average prices below $1 per kilogram.

“In Japan, rice now costs as much as Rp 100,000 ($6) per kilogram. Here, it remains between Rp 13,000 and Rp 15,000 [$0.80–$0.90],” he said in a video interview shared with The Jakarta Globe. “We must be grateful. Our climate remains favorable for rice cultivation.”

Indonesia’s rice production rose 14 percent to 21.7 million tons in the January-July period compared to the same timeframe in 2024, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). Total output this year is projected to reach 35.6 million tons, up from 30.37 million tons in 2024.

At this pace, the country expects to have nearly 10 million tons of rice in reserve by the end of 2025 -- without relying on imports.

However, Andi cautioned that increased production alone does not guarantee price stability without efficient distribution systems. To address this, the government has distributed 1.3 million tons of subsidized rice nationwide in the past two days to curb prices.

“We’re confident that prices will begin to fall within the next two weeks,” he said.

Producers and distributors of premium-grade rice have also agreed to reduce prices by Rp 1,000 per 5-kilogram pack, following a police crackdown on vendors selling above the government’s price ceiling.

“We've made it clear: if you label your rice as premium, the quality must match. I told business owners -- yes, make a profit, but don’t manipulate prices,” Andi asserted.

The Agriculture Ministry has submitted a list of 212 premium rice brands suspected of mislabeling and price gouging, of which 25 are currently under police investigation.

“This isn’t the first time,” he warned. “We’ve already taken action in past cases, like with cooking oil. Strategic food industries must not be tampered with.”

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