Indonesia Achieves Rice Self-Sufficiency... Now Corn?

President Joko Widodo of Indonesia
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Indonesia, which achieved rice self-sufficiency by halting rice imports for the past three years, is now pushing to expand production with the goal of achieving corn self-sufficiency.

According to local media on the 15th (local time), Indonesian President Joko Widodo said at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Food Security Awards ceremony held in Jakarta the day before, "We have not imported rice for three years," adding, "Within the next 2 to 3 years, we will completely stop importing corn as well."

Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country with about 280 million people, has often relied on imports due to inconsistent rice production caused by shortages of agricultural water and fertilizers despite its vast territory and tropical monsoon climate. However, since President Jokowi's inauguration, the expansion of irrigation facilities such as dams, weirs, and reservoirs, along with infrastructure development, has led to rice self-sufficiency. This year, Indonesia is expected to export rice for the first time in 20 years.

President Jokowi stated, "Over the past seven years, we have built 4,500 dams and 1.1 million irrigation networks, and increased rice production through infrastructure expansion and variety improvement," adding, "From 2019 to 2021, we produced an average of 31.3 million tons of rice annually, achieving self-sufficiency."

However, Indonesia still heavily depends on imports for many other food items besides rice. The economic analysis firm Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) rated Indonesia's Global Food Security Index (GFSI) at 59.2 out of 100 points, ranking 69th out of 113 countries surveyed.

Following rice, Indonesia plans to challenge corn self-sufficiency by expanding corn production. Efforts are underway to develop farmland and improve varieties. President Jokowi emphasized, "Over the past seven years, we imported an average of 3.5 million tons of corn annually, but this year it dropped to 800,000 tons," adding that if the current production expansion continues, Indonesia could soon shift from a net corn importer to a net exporter.