By: Edi Jatmiko) *
The national food deficit did not occur due to the fact that the production of rice and other food supplies was very sufficient. So no need to import and stock is very safe for some time to come. Don’t panic and buy up rice during the Covid-19 Pandemic because the supply will always be enough and will not disappear from the market.
Corona pandemic caused people to buy rice, sugar and other types of basic food, more than usual. They are afraid that Indonesia will be locked down like China and other countries, when in fact it is not. People are also afraid when there is a pandemic and later conditions will be like the year 1988 when the monetary crisis hit Indonesia. At that time the price of food was multiplied many times and the supply in the market was running low.
Concerns about this will increasingly occur when there is hoax news about food production deficits in Indonesia. The people became afraid, panicked and bought bags of rice. Though this is not necessary. Although the Covid-19 pandemic is still ongoing, rice and other food supplies are still very safe. The farmers have completed their work and the rice supply in Bulog is very sufficient. Moreover, the harvest season will soon be in abundance.
In Lampung alone there is a surplus of rice of more than 260,000 tons. The success of this rice harvest is certainly happy and makes people able to breathe freely. They can shop groceries normally and are not afraid to run out, because in reality, rice stocks are very sufficient.
If there are regions in Indonesia that lack rice, then commodity diversion will be carried out. For example, in Maluku and North Kalimantan, which often lack food, they will get supplies coming from areas with surplus rice, such as in Mesuji and Lampung. This is a national logistics system strategy. This was developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, so that the food supply and distribution chain is more controlled.
Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo assured that food supplies were very sufficient. For April to June 2020, the stock is safe, because there is a post-harvest surplus. This is the result of a survey of food security materials.
The basic food supplies available until June are as follows: 6.4 million tons for rice stock. While there are sugar 1.07 million tons and 1.01 tons of corn. Very much, right? This stock even though the count is only until June, will be very sufficient. After June there will certainly be more supplies, because rice and corn will be planted again and harvested again.
The distribution of rice and other food items has also become smoother. The Ministry of Agriculture is working hard to cover the food deficit in an area. The community does not need to worry even if they do not live in Java, because the government is trying to get all regions to stock up on rice and other food commodities.
The community is also expected not to buy up rice and food, as if tomorrow was going to end. If everyone does it, it will instead result in losses, because the price can go up because the demand is very high. So, shop properly and remember that there are other people who also need it, so don’t be selfish and pile up knots of rice and sugar at home. Believe in a government that is trying to be fair and to distribute rice supplies to all regions in Indonesia.
Rice surpluses still occur in Lampung, Mesuji and several other regions in Indonesia. The Ministry of Agriculture acts to regulate the distribution of rice and other food staples throughout the region, and to make sure that in areas with insufficient supplies the excess is supplied. So certainly there will be no scarcity of food in Indonesia. Don’t worry, supplies will be safe and there is no need to buy up because of panic.
) * Active writer in the Jakarta Press Circle and Students