Jayapura, Dec. 10 -- Indonesia has stopped importing rice and built a record stockpile of 3.7 million tonnes, the largest since state logistics agency Bulog was established in 1967, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said on Tuesday.

The reserves are well above the usual ceiling of around 2 million tonnes, ensuring domestic rice demand is fully covered, Amran said after launching a government rice distribution program in Jayapura, Papua.

Rice currently circulating in the market is entirely domestically produced, he said, adding that the government has expanded paddy fields, including new growing areas in Papua, to sustain supply.

The government is supporting new rice field development by providing farming equipment such as hand tracto...