Indonesian Minister Asserts Floods Won't Impact National Rice Production

Government Confidence in Food Security

Indonesia's Agriculture Minister, Andi Amran Sulaiman, has provided assurance that the recent floods in Aceh and Sumatera will not significantly impact the country's rice production. The minister emphasized that both affected regions are currently experiencing rice surpluses, which will help maintain national food security.

Regional Surpluses Mitigate Flood Impact

Aceh is reported to have an 870,000-ton rice surplus, while Sumatera also maintains a surplus position. According to Amran, these regional surpluses effectively counterbalance the impact of the floods that affected 28,000 hectares of rice fields. The minister stressed that this represents a relatively minor portion compared to Indonesia's total of 11 million hectares of cultivated rice fields.

National Food Security Measures

The minister's statement during a press conference in Jakarta highlighted the government's confidence in maintaining national food security despite natural disasters. The assurance comes as part of the government's ongoing efforts to monitor and manage agricultural production across various regions.

Agricultural Resilience in Flood-Affected Areas

While the floods have presented challenges to local farmers, the overall national rice production remains robust. The government's ability to maintain surplus production in key regions like Aceh and Sumatera demonstrates the resilience of Indonesia's agricultural sector.