2016 Rice Production: An All-Time High

National rice production reached a new all-time high in 2016. Based on the second forecast (Aram II) data released by the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) in coordination with the Central Bureau of Statistics, rice production in 2016 reached 79.14 million tons of milled rice (GKG). This figure is up 4.96 percent from the previous year.

In 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture will strive to increase the national additional planting area to 17.16 million hectares, with a projected rice production of 85.57 million tons. On several occasions, Minister Amran Sulaiman stated that Indonesia no longer imports rice due to the increase in rice production throughout 2016. The government uses this year as a foundation to achieve rice self-sufficiency, last achieved in 1984.

The Ministry of Agriculture's efforts to achieve rice self-sufficiency, involving the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), have drawn considerable criticism. In several regions, intimidation of farmers regarding the expansion of rice fields and the sale of farmers' unhusked rice has been reported. Similarly, Bulog (Indonesia's state logistics agency) has also been pressured to accept harvested rice from farmers with sub-standard quality.