The government ensures that rice stocks in Indonesia are sufficient until the 2024 election
The government has decided to extend rice food assistance to the lower middle class. This rice food aid is distributed from the Government’s rice reserve stock which is managed by Perum Bulog in accordance with assignments from the National Food Agency (Bapanas). Previously, the Government had issued permits to import additional rice for 1.5 million tons. That way, people don’t need to worry because the Government guarantees that rice stocks throughout Indonesia will be safe until 2024.
The rice import target can be realized by the end of 2023 because the Government has pressed rice import contracts from several neighboring countries. The hope is that this imported rice can be sent to Indonesia immediately without any obstacles.
Head of Public Relations and Institutional Affairs at Perum Bulog, Tomi Wijaya, said that almost half or around 700 thousand tons of rice had been contracted by the Government with Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and Myanmar. He also added that food rice reserves in the Bulog warehouse are currently 1.48 million tons. If reduced by the remaining stage 2 food aid and additional allocations for December 2023, the availability of rice stocks will still be quite large.
As is known, inflation is an indicator of the level of progressa country. However, what must continue to be maintained is price stability in order to provide sufficient stimulus on the production side so that it does not put great pressure on both producers and consumers. Therefore, the Government has made various efforts to ensure the availability of rice stocks so that the selling price of rice on the market can be controlled.
The community, especially the 20.622 million Beneficiary Families (KPM) throughout Indonesia, certainly really need this rice food assistance because it is considered to really help ease the economic burden and fulfill their basic food needs. As of October 2023, the realization of rice food aid has reached 400 thousand tons or around 65 percent of the total target of 640 thousand tons.
Previously, the Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani, said that he had prepared a budget of IDR 2.67 trillion which would be allocated to extend the rice food supply in December 2023. If needed, the Government would again provide additional food assistance in January, February and March 2024.
Since the beginning of 2023, the Acting Minister of Agriculture, Arief Prasetyo Adi, has carefully calculated national production and needs by taking into account the dynamics and changes in the strategic environment during 2023. He emphasized that the need for rice imports in 2023 has been carried out in a measurable manner so that this import will not reduce grain prices and harm local farmers.
Apart from the impact of El Nino, it cannot be denied that the global geopolitical situation also plays a role in having a major influence on food security conditions related to the flow of food distribution and trade between countries which occurs almost all over the world. However, various anticipatory efforts have been carefully estimated and prepared by the Government to secure domestic supplies, especially rice commodities.
Apart from that, to ensure the availability of rice food stocks, the Government also carries out rice market operations and implements the Cheap Food Movement program which is carried out in all regions.
In responding to these conditions, the East Kalimantan Regional Government ensures that rice stocks will always be safe. Acting Governor of East Kalimantan, Dr. Akmal Malik said that the rice stock in his area was monitored to be safe after his party carried out direct checks at the Samarinda Bulog Public Housing Warehouse.
In the future, the East Kalimantan Regional Government ensures that there will be no rice shortage in East Kalimantan. His party will also collaborate with several related agencies to continue to carry out market interventions with Bulog contributors and partners in order to ensure the availability of rice stocks on the market.
He added that the amount of rice stock in East Kalimantan is 1,500 tons and is certain to be sufficient until the 2024 election. Currently, the East Kalimantan Provincial Government is focusing on developing food centers in the District. North Panajam Paser (PPU) and Kab. Kutai Kartanegara to realize regional food independence. This development shows good collaboration and synergy between the East Kalimantan Regional Government and vertical agencies in the context of solving various food problems so that there is no shortage of commodities on the market.
In this way, it is hoped that the various strategies implemented by the Government can help ease the burden on the community from rice shortages and high price increases. This rice import program can also be a challenge for the Government to increase domestic rice or grain production so that it can slowly reduce rice imports. Production of agricultural products in Indonesia can also be improved and continuously increased so that no domestic producers or consumers suffer losses in the future.
