Top Rice News: Missouri As The Top Rice Producing State, And Indonesia’s Subsidised Prices

Top Rice News highlights Indonesia keeping subsidised SPHP rice prices stable despite a weakening rupiah, supported by strong government reserves of 5.3 million tonnes and strict food security measures to protect consumer purchasing power. Meanwhile, Missouri has become one of the top US rice-producing states, ranking fourth nationally, with most production in the Bootheel region driven by family farms and strong irrigation. Together, these updates show global efforts to ensure price stability and a strong rice supply.

Indonesia Keeps Subsidised Rice Prices Stable Despite Weakening Rupiah

Despite the weakening of the Rupiah against the US dollar, Indonesia's National Food Agency (Bapanas) said rice prices under the government's Food Price and Supply Stabilisation (SPHP) program will not change. On Thursday, Bapanas SPHP Director Maino Dwi Hartono said, "The government can ensure that fluctuations in the US dollar exchange rate will not affect SPHP rice prices. "He added that the policy indicates the government's commitment under President Prabowo Subianto to maintain people's purchasing power, similar to its decision not to raise subsidised fuel prices. According to him, this way, people can stay calm. Assuring that state-run logistics company Bulog would continue maintaining the quality of SPHP rice, he told the price of SPHP, which is at Rp12,500 (around US$0.70) per kilogram in Java, Lampung, South Sumatra, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, and Sulawesi. The price is set at Rp13,100 per kilogram in other Sumatran regions, East Nusa Tenggara, and Kalimantan, while consumers in Maluku and Papua pay Rp13,500 per kilogram. Earlier, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said Indonesia had achieved rice self-sufficiency and warned against market manipulation practices that distort prices. Government rice reserves managed by Bulog currently stand at 5.3 million tonnes, the highest level in Indonesia's history, supporting market stabilisation efforts, including the SPHP program.

Missouri Becomes One of America’s Leading Rice Producers

Missouri has become one of America's largest rice-producing states. It ranks 4th in the amount of acreage dedicated to rice growing behind Arkansas, California and Louisiana. The Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council (Missouri Rice Council) has voted to rejoin the USA Rice Federation, the national trade association and global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry. Rance Daniels is a third-generation rice farmer from the Bootheel who is the current Chair of the Missouri Rice Council, the Vice Chair of the USA Rice Farmers Board, and has spent years building bridges between Missouri’s rice growers and the national industry. He asserts 99% of the state's rice production happens on family farms in the southeast near Cape Girardeau. "Yeah, it's primed for rice. Most of the Bootheel used to be a swamp before it was drained in the early 1900s, so we have plentiful water. The Bootheel is uniquely situated for rice production," he said. Daniels mentions farmers grow two types of rice in Missouri: long-grain and medium-grain. "Long-grain rice is going to be rice like you have at your Mexican restaurant. They classify it by the length of the grain. And then your medium-grain is like a Rice Krispies cereal, Rice Krispies treats."Daniels cites his favourite rice dishes, such as red beans and rice and chicken and rice.