Karawang, W. Java. President Prabowo Subianto declared that Indonesia has achieved rice self-sufficiency after decades of imports.

Speaking at a mass harvest event in Karawang, West Java, on Wednesday, Prabowo announced that Indonesia no longer needs to import rice after national reserves climbed to about 3 million tons in 2025. Indonesia did not import any rice throughout 2025.

The declaration came just one year after his administration set self-sufficiency as a strategic priority.

“I announce that Indonesia has achieved food self-sufficiency in 2025,” Prabowo told thousands of farmers. “Our rice reserves are secure, and we no longer need to import rice.”

The achievement, he said, was reached far earlier than projected. Government planners had initially estimated it would take up to four years to reach self-sufficiency, but the target was met within a year, aided by higher yields, improved distribution, and coordinated policies across central and regional governments.

Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy and the world’s fourth-most populous nation, has long relied on rice imports to stabilize domestic prices and manage shortages caused by climate shocks, logistics gaps, and fluctuating harvests. Prabowo said rice self-sufficiency reduces exposure to global supply disruptions and geopolitical risks.

“This is a historic moment,” he said, crediting farmers, local governments and sustained agricultural reforms. The announcement was met with applause and cheers from farmers attending the event.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported rice imports of 364,300 tons worth $178.5 million between January and October 2025. The Agriculture Ministry clarified that rice imports recorded in 2025 did not undermine Indonesia’s self-sufficiency claim, stressing that all shipments were specialty and industrial rice, not the medium rice consumed by households.

Looking ahead, Prabowo pledged to expand self-sufficiency beyond rice. He said the government aims to achieve similar outcomes for other key staples such as corn and cassava and to prove that food self-reliance can be sustained year after year.

“Some say it will only last a year or two,” he said, addressing skeptics. “We will prove it every year — self-sufficient in rice, corn, cassava and other staples.”

The president also promised to lower production costs across the agricultural sector, including animal feed, fertilizer and seeds, to protect farmer incomes and keep food prices affordable for consumers.

“I want my legacy to be one where food prices fall, fertilizer prices fall, seed prices fall — where basic needs are affordable for our people,” Prabowo said.

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