JAKARTA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is targeting rice production of 32 million tons next year, aiming to achieve food self-sufficiency while striving to eliminate rice imports, a minister said on Tuesday.
"The target is 32 million tons by 2025. If we are self-sufficient, we should not import anymore," said Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman.
He explained that production in 2025 is expected to increase annually by 1 million tons compared to 2024. "An increase of 1 million tons is significant, with a value equivalent to 12 trillion rupiah (around 788 million U.S. dollars)," he noted.
The government is intensifying various measures, including the food reserve program and the application of modern agricultural technology. These initiatives aim not only to achieve food self-sufficiency but also to accommodate the country's annual population growth.
According to Statistics Indonesia, the country is expected to produce 30.34 million tons of rice this year, reflecting a 2.43 percent decline compared to last year's 31.10 million tons. ■
