inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman confirmed that the government's national rice reserve (CBP) of 4.6 million tons is secure enough to withstand global geopolitical pressures and the threat of drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon.

Andi stated that rice reserves as of April 7, 2026, reached 4.6 million tons, an increase from the previous 4.5 million tons, and the highest level in the history of Indonesia's national food stock management.

"Rice reserves today, as of this morning, April 7, 2026, reached 4.6 million tons. Yesterday it was 4.5 million tons, now it's 4.6 million tons. This amount is the biggest in our history," explained Andi on Tuesday (4/7/2026).

With this achievement, the government assesses that the national rice reserve is very strong and capable of maintaining supply and price stability amidst increasing global uncertainty in recent times.

The Minister stated that the current rice stock availability is guaranteed to be sufficient to meet the needs of Indonesians for the next 10 to 11 months.

He also emphasized that the threat of El Niño, which is expected to last for the next six months, can still be anticipated with stock readiness and comprehensive mitigation measures the government has prepared to maintain domestic agricultural productivity.

"Indonesia's national rice stock is guaranteed to be secure for the next 10 to 11 months. On the other hand, El Niño is expected to last for six months," Andi emphasized.

According to him, food is not just a basic human need, but a strategic issue that determines the survival of a nation and therefore must be safeguarded seriously and sustainably by the state.

Therefore, the government has placed the food sector as a top priority in safeguarding national sovereignty and ensuring the nation's future remains secure amidst uncertain global dynamics.

At the global level, Andi added, the food crisis is becoming increasingly apparent, with a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) stating that approximately 724 million people worldwide are experiencing hunger due to various factors, including conflict and extreme climate change.

This situation is exacerbated by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East region, which have the potential to trigger a wider humanitarian crisis and threaten around 40 million people with the risk of serious starvation.

(ad/ndt/pr/rs)