Makassar. Indonesia has begun leasing additional warehouses to accommodate surging rice stockpiles, which are expected to approach 5 million tons this month, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Sunday.

During an inspection of State Logistics Agency (Bulog) facilities in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Amran said national rice reserves have reached approximately 4.5 million tons, describing the figure as the highest level since Indonesia’s independence.

“Total warehouse capacity is only around 3 million tons, so we have leased additional facilities to accommodate another 2 million tons,” Amran said. Based on current trends, he added, national stockpiles could reach 6 million tons within the next two months.

By comparison, rice reserves during the same period last year stood at around 1.5 million tons.

“Previously, stocks at this time of year were at most 1.5 million tons. Now they have increased by 200%, and we are grateful,” he said.

In South Sulawesi alone, Bulog’s rice stocks have surpassed 761,000 tons — more than double the levels recorded a year earlier.

“In the past, when warehouses in South Sulawesi were full, they held a maximum of about 300,000 tons. Today, they have reached 761,000 tons across the province,” Amran said.

Despite ongoing global geopolitical tensions, Amran said Indonesia’s food security remains strong, citing robust domestic rice production.

He added that output has risen to the point where distribution now requires larger transport capacity, including the use of bigger trucks to move supplies.