BERITAJABAR.ID – The National Food Agency (Bapanas) guarantees that 50 thousand tons of rice from Bulog will start entering the Cipinang Rice Main Market (PIBC). Previously, President Joko Widodo had ordered that the rice stocks at PIBC and the DKI Jakarta BUMD Food Station be immediately distributed to both traditional and modern markets. These efforts must be made to ensure that the supply of rice to the community is safe until Eid 2024.
Bulog’s role in distributing rice to a number of markets in Indonesia is very important to maintain food supply stability. By continuing to improve efficiency and innovation in its distribution system, Bulog can remain the main pillar in ensuring equal availability of rice, maintaining price stability.
Head of the National Food Agency, Arief Prasetyo Adi, said that after instructions from President Joko Widodo regarding the distribution of rice to the market, his party immediately coordinated with the Association of Indonesian Rice Millers and Rice Entrepreneurs (PERPADI), PIBC, Bulog, and the Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association (APRINDO). to fill rice stocks in the market. His party also ensures that rice stocks will be safe and maintained until Eid. In this context, the government has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining rice supply stability as part of the national food strategy through intense collaboration with various related agencies.
Furthermore, Arief Prasetyo Adi said that distributing Bulog rice this time would not be difficult because the stock was very abundant. In fact, as of today, Bulog’s rice stock has reached 1.3 million tons. However, Arief Prasetyo Adi appealed to the public to buy rice according to their needs so that there is no shortage and it is hoped that the amount of rice in each house is enough to buy 5-10 kg of rice per day.
Arief emphasized that the public does not need to worry because their rice needs will be fully met by the Government. People only need to shop according to their needs, for example 2-3 packs and don’t need up to 10 packs. This aims for equality so that other people can still get rice stocks.
For your information, Bapanas has arranged for the distribution of Bulog rice stocks to continue to be intensified to various market lines. The 50 thousand tonnes of rice was distributed by Bulog to PIBC which will then be packaged in the form of 5 kg of rice and distributed to modern retailers.
Apart from that, the Government will prepare for a big harvest which is likely to be in March 2024. The focus is to maintain prices at the farmer level so that they do not experience excessive depreciation, because when the harvest starts to reach above 2-3 million tons, the price of grain at the farmer level will start to fall. So this is what the Government will look after.
On the same occasion, Chairman of DPD PERPADI DKI Jakarta, Nellys Soekidi said that his party was ready to help distribute rice to modern retailers. His party will ensure that rice stocks do not experience shortages at this time.
On the other hand, the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Erick Thohir, confirmed that the availability of rice in Indonesia is still quite safe at present. In fact, the Minister of BUMN, accompanied by the Main Director of Perum Bulog, Bayu Krisnamurthi, also went directly to check the availability of rice in the field.
Erick Thohir asked the public not to worry, let alone panic buying because Bulog’s rice stock is currently 1.2 million tons and there is still 500 thousand tons of stock on the way. The quota for import procurement assignments from the Government still exists, so the amount will be stronger for the need to distribute rice to markets in order to maintain rice price stability in the community.
Erick also explained that world food prices have been increasing in recent years. Not only due to world food factors, but also fluctuations in food prices which are determined by the planting and harvest seasons. In March, Erick Thohir added that rice production will increase, almost to a surplus of 3.5 million tons. During this period, the Government continued to try to intervene to prevent higher price fluctuations.
He continued, people can have the option of premium rice at a price of IDR 69,500 per 5 kg or IDR 54,500 per 5 kg with SPHP rice. That way, people can buy rice according to their needs and purchasing power without having to hoard too much, causing rice scarcity and shortages. He also ensured that the Government would continue to be present to provide rice food assistance to 22 million Beneficiary Families (KPM) amounting to 10 kg as a form of the Government’s concern.
The Government’s efforts to ensure the stability of rice supplies are a form of attention to the community so that they do not experience rice food shortages and do not experience high price spikes. For this reason, the public is expected to continue to support Government policies in maintaining the availability of rice stocks in Indonesia.
By: Nana Gunawan *) The author is an Economic Observer at the Persada Institute.
