Jakarta, Oct. 20 -- Indonesia plans to accelerate rice field development in its eastern regions as part of long-term efforts to stabilize prices and strengthen food security, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Monday.

The initiative targets Zone 3 regions - including Papua, Maluku, and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) - where rice prices have surged due to limited production and high logistics costs. The move complements the government's Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) program, which aims to keep staple food prices in check.

"We will develop rice fields in regions like Papua as a permanent solution going forward," Sulaiman told reporters after a coordination meeting at the Agriculture Ministry in Jakarta.

The SPHP mark...