Indonesia

Despite being the world's third-largest rice producer, Indonesia nevertheless needs to import rice practically every year (although usually to keep the reserves at a safe level). Farmers' non-optimal production techniques, combined with high per capita rice consumption, have resulted in this situation (and the massive population). In fact, Indonesia is one of the world's greatest rice users. In 2017, the country's per capita rice consumption was about 150 kg (of rice, per person, per year). Only Myanmar, Vietnam, and Bangladesh consumed more rice per capita.

Smallholder farmers, not large corporate or state-owned corporations, dominate rice production in Indonesia. Smallholder farmers account for almost 90% of Indonesia's rice production, with each farmer owning less than 0.8 hectares of land.

Given that Indonesia has a huge population that eats a lot of rice, and given the hazards of being a rice importer when food prices rise (which burdens poorer households that spend more than half of their income on food), obtaining rice self-sufficiency is a major objective for the country. The country actually wants to become a rice exporter.