Jakarta, Jan. 12 -- The Indonesian government aims to maintain a four-million-ton rice reserve through 2029, supported by a 2026 harvest season expected to begin as early as February.

National rice production is projected to be 5-10 percent higher than the previous year due to the accelerated harvest timeline.

"While the nationwide harvest usually begins in March, this year it is expected to start in February and continue through April with higher projected yields," Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan remarked in Jakarta on Monday.

Speaking after a coordination meeting, he emphasized that this surplus has prompted the government to expand storage facilities, as current state-run logistics company Bulog warehouse capac...