Jakarta, April 17 -- The Indonesian government claimed that the country has achieved a surplus in rice self-sufficiency and is ready to face El Niño, with the commodity serving as a key benchmark for national food security.

"The country is no longer importing medium-grade rice, indicating full self-sufficiency. This surplus has been achieved within one year of the President's four-year plan," Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Friday.

He noted that self-sufficiency is achieved when domestic production by farmers and livestock producers meets national consumption needs.

Indonesia has reached self-sufficiency not only in rice, although the commodity remains the main benchmark as it dominates daily consumption.

"Food c...