Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s agriculture minister urged importers on Tuesday to avoid excessive soybean price increases, warning that rising costs could threaten food stability and burden consumers.“We ask all importers not to raise soybean prices too high. Let us maintain food price stability and show empathy for the community,” Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta.He highlighted mounting pressure on tofu and tempeh producers, as higher soybean prices begin to affect small-scale businesses and household food staples.Producers in Bekasi, West Java, have struggled to stay afloat as global price shocks drive up the cost of imported soybeans and packaging, squeezing already thin profit margins.Many small producers have responded by shrinking product sizes and reducing their workforce, reflecting the broader impact of global market volatility on everyday foods.Sulaiman said the government is still examining the drivers behind rising domestic soybean prices and will coordinate with relevant agencies to determine appropriate intervention measures.“We are investigating the causes and will soon coordinate with the relevant directorates general,” he said.On rice, the minister said national reserves have reached their highest level on record, providing a buffer against potential supply shocks.“Our stock stands at 4.6 million tons today. We expect it to reach 5 million tons in April, the highest level in history,” he said.He noted that rice reserves in previous years typically ranged between 1.5 million and 2 million tons in April, indicating that current levels have more than doubled.The government has also prepared contingency measures to mitigate the impact of potential prolonged drought linked to the El Nino phenomenon.In addition to projected warehouse stocks of 5 million tons, Sulaiman said there are 12.5 million tons in the hotel, restaurant and catering sector, along with 11 million tons in standing crops.“That brings total availability to around 28 million tons, which is sufficient for the next 10.7 to 11 months,” he said.