Indonesia’s Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman reaffirmed the government’s strict zero-import stance on rice, emphasizing President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to safeguarding national food sovereignty. Following a parliamentary hearing, he clarified that no imported rice is permitted to enter the country, including in free-trade zones such as Sabang, where authorities recently sealed a warehouse containing 250 tonnes of illegally imported Thai rice. Amran highlighted that Indonesia’s projected rice output of 34.7 million tonnes surpasses the 2025 target of 32 million tonnes, ensuring ample supply and reinforcing the policy that imports are unnecessary. He also noted that previous large-scale imports—such as the seven million tonnes purchased two years ago—once influenced global prices, and that producing countries are now urging Indonesia to resume buying amid a drop in international rice prices from around USD 650 per tonne to USD 340.
Amran commended Parliament’s Commission IV for supporting firm enforcement against illegal imports, stressing that such measures protect farmers and maintain policy consistency. He underscored that isolated violations do not undermine national self-sufficiency, which is measured by domestic production strength. Commission IV Chair Siti Hediati Hariyadi also called for strict legal action against those involved in the Sabang case, affirming that Indonesia’s no-import policy must be upheld to preserve market stability and long-term food security.
