Indonesia’s government aims to increase rice production to 35 million tonnes in 2024 to become self-sufficient in this type of product, Indonesian Acting Minister of Agriculture Arief Prasetyo Adi has said.

Speaking at a national meeting on rice in Surakarta city, Central Java province, on October 23, Adi said that the production target for 2024 is higher than 31 million tonnes set for this year, in order to ensure that Indonesia will not need to import rice to meet domestic demands.

According to the Area Sample Frame (KSA) Survey by Statistics Indonesia, the estimated rice harvest area in 2023 is 10.2 million hectares, with production projected at 53.63 million tonnes of unhusked rice, an equivalent of 30.9 million tonnes of rice.

Meanwhile, rice consumption is expected to be 30.62 million tonnes, resulting in a surplus of 0.28 million tonnes.

To achieve the above-mentioned target, rice productivity should increase from 5.2 tonnes per hectare to 5.4, 5.5, or even 5.7 tonnes per hectare, Adi said.

According to him, to meet the production target for 2024, it is necessary for the Ministry of Agriculture of Indonesia and relevant agencies to ensure the successful implementation of the first planting season of 2023-2024, which runs from November to March next year.

Adi held that the guaranteed availability of seeds, fertiliser, irrigation, pest control, and agricultural extension workers has been identified as crucial for establishing a robust food ecosystem.

He went on to say that providing agricultural insurance to farmers and agribusiness players as well as ensuring the readiness of local agricultural extension offices to address issues faced by rice farmers are needed to pursue this target.