By: Syarifudin)*
The government is trying its best to anticipate food inflation that has the potential to occur. One way to do this is to prepare food stocks early in order to anticipate a shortage of food supplies.
Indonesians consume rice as their daily food and it has not been replaced by other staples (except in the eastern regions, which eat sago and corn more often). The existence of rice is number 1, so if this staple is scarce, it will make people dizzy (especially for mothers). The price of rice has been stable so far and is still within the reach of people’s wallets.
However, there is a threat of food inflation predicted by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). The international organization calculates that there will be a 3% increase in world food prices, due to rising prices for wheat and vegetable oil. In a sense, it is feared that the price of other basic goods such as rice could also rise.
Bulog’s Corporate Secretary, Awaludin, stated that there was nothing to worry about, because the stock was very safe, reaching 1 to 1.5 tons of rice. very sufficient for disaster preparedness and anticipation. So that there will be no food inflation in Indonesia. When there is a prediction of food price inflation, it will not have much effect in this country.
In a sense, people will not worry because rice is very sufficient and will not become a scarce item. They are not afraid that rice will be excellent and can only be obtained cheaply by waiting in long lines, as happened during the 1998 monetary crisis.
Rice scarcity must be prevented so that the stock is always available. The reason is, if rice is scarce then he will follow the law of the economy. The price can go up drastically and confuse people, because like it or not, it has to be bought.
In addition, if there is an increase in the price of rice, it is usually followed by an increase in the price of other basic goods. This will confuse the public even more. Therefore, the supply of rice must be maintained, so that it is completely safe and keeps food inflation away.
If rice stock is available, it will be able to anticipate disasters. As we know, climate change has shifted the rainy and summer seasons, so it is feared that there will be crop failures. However, when there is a stock of rice, when the worst possibility (harvest failure) occurs, we will not be afraid because the supply is safe.
To increase the supply of rice, the government made a program to add rice fields. Vice President KH Ma’ruf Amin stated that the government would set a policy of increasing the area of rice fields through large-scale food development. During a pandemic, national food security is very important. Meanwhile, the program for adding rice fields will be carried out in the medium and long term.
The addition of rice fields is very important because currently in Java many rice fields are cleared for property development. Yet if there is no rice field, how can there be rice? Rice planting initiated by the government is generally carried out outside Java, because the land area is still available. Unlike in Java, which has been crowded by humans.
If the rice stock is safe then we can smile because we don’t have to import, for example from Thailand. Indeed, imported rice tastes different, but is much more expensive, so it is recommended to consume rice produced by Indonesian farmers.
Rice supplies in Bulog’s warehouse are very safe for the next few months, and we don’t have to be afraid of running out of stock when there is a natural disaster during the rainy season. In addition, when there is a lot of rice, it will not become rare, so the price will creep up.
)* The author is a contributor to Pertiwi Institute