Indonesia Assures Rice Stock Safety Amidst Extreme El Nino

The Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) and Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, stated that Indonesia's food situation remains strong amidst global food, energy, and water crises, along with droughts caused by the extreme El Nino phenomenon. He assured that the national food supply, particularly rice, is secure. "Alhamdulillah, our food is in a safe condition, especially rice, in the midst of the world's shocks, food crises, energy crises, and water crises that occur in parts of the world," Amran said in Jakarta on Thursday. He acknowledged that the El Nino phenomenon is one of the most difficult challenges impacting the agricultural sector, but emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring national rice availability. According to Amran, the government's rice reserves (CBP) stored in Perum Bulog warehouses amount to 4.6 million tons. This stock is considered sufficient to face the dry season and the impacts of El Nino through various government intervention programs. As of mid-September 2026, the distribution of CBP has exceeded 2 million tons. This distribution includes rice for the Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) program, food assistance (both first and second phases), and disaster and emergency aid. Beneficiaries of the food assistance program receive 10 kilograms of rice per month free of charge. Government rice stocks at Bulog have increased by approximately 18 percent, from 3.9 million tons in September 2025 to 4.6 million tons in September 2026. This rise is seen as an indicator of the government's success in maintaining national rice availability amid global food challenges and the extreme El Nino. Furthermore, rice inflation development until August 2026 shows a relatively stable condition. Annual rice inflation stood at 2.77 percent in August 2026, down from 3.10 percent the previous month. Monthly rice inflation was recorded at 0.42 percent, a decrease from 0.49 percent. Bapanas views the monthly rice inflation throughout 2026 as very stable, never exceeding 1 percent, demonstrating the effectiveness of government efforts to ensure supply and price stability despite the drought threat and global food crisis pressures.