Indonesia secures 10-month rice supply as 33 nations urge emergency food stockpiles

Indonesia's government has assured citizens that national rice reserves are secure for the next ten months, with government stockpiles managed by state logistics company Perum Bulog reaching 4.5 million tonnes as of October 26, 2026. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that when combined with approximately 10 million tonnes of rice from standing crops ready for harvest and 10 million tonnes held by the hotel, restaurant, and catering sector, total national rice availability is estimated at around 25 million tonnes—sufficient to cover monthly national demand of roughly 2.5 million tonnes.

The reassurance comes as at least 33 countries worldwide have begun urging their populations to stockpile emergency food supplies, water, medicines, and other essential goods. The United Kingdom and Japan have been among the most visible in strengthening these advisories, with UK authorities recommending household provisions for a minimum of three days and Japanese authorities suggesting stocks for three days to one week if possible. These precautions are framed as responses to multiple risks including geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, extreme weather, potential cyberattacks on infrastructure, and disruptions to international supply chains and distribution networks.

Vice Agriculture Minister Muhammad Saleh noted that President Prabowo Subianto had personally inquired about Indonesia's preparedness for the upcoming rainy season, directing the ministry to ensure measures against crop failure from flooding, including deployment of water pumps. The government emphasized that Indonesia's domestic production capacity and strategic reserves position the nation to withstand global food security threats without reliance on imports, contrasting sharply with the emergency preparations underway in other countries.

Minister Amran stressed that national food self-sufficiency represents both economic strength and national sovereignty. He argued that countries dependent on food imports face significant risk if international trade routes are disrupted or if export-producing nations restrict supplies during conflicts or crises. Indonesia's ability to meet its own food needs through domestic production, he stated, protects the nation from volatile international prices and supply shocks.