Agriculture minister says Indonesia’s rice supply is secure amid El Niño, adds 1 million tonnes of medium SPHP rice

Indonesia’s agriculture minister has declared the country’s rice supply secure despite El Niño and a longer dry season. To reinforce supplies and limit price increases, the government will add 1 million tonnes of medium rice under its SPHP food supply and price stabilization programme.

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman made the announcement after a coordination meeting with Coordinating Food Minister Zulkifli Hasan and other ministries and agencies in Jakarta on Monday, September 7, 2026. “The conclusion is that everything is safe, safe. Our food production and needs are safe,” Amran said.

The government plans to speed up SPHP rice distribution and push medium and premium rice into retail networks. It also said it would stop importing broken rice and conduct large-scale market operations. Food assistance will be distributed more quickly as part of the effort to keep rice available and affordable.

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The conclusion is that everything is safe, safe. Our food production and needs are safe.

Amran said the measures were designed to anticipate pressure from the dry season rather than wait for shortages to emerge. The additional SPHP rice will move through various distribution channels from October to December 2026, with distribution continuing into the next harvest period.

Zulkifli said the extra supply was intended to strengthen market availability and protect prices. “To respond to that, we have just decided in the meeting: we will increase the supply of the subsidized rice known as SPHP. Medium SPHP. We are adding another 1 million,” he said.

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To respond to that, we have just decided in the meeting: we will increase the supply of the subsidized rice known as SPHP. Medium SPHP. We are adding another 1 million.