Bulog Gets Rice Import Duties Again 500 Thousand Tons

Illustration of rice supply (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Public Company of the Logistics Affairs Agency (Perum Bulog) received an assignment to import 500 thousand more rice by the National Food Agency (Bapanas).

Perum Bulog Awaludin Corporate Secretary Iqbal confirmed the assignment. He said his party had received an assignment letter from Badanas.

The import of 500 thousand tons of rice is part of the plan to import for one year which is set at 2 million tons.

"It's true according to the Bapanas letter, 2 million tons a year, (increase gradually). The first stage is 500 thousand tons," Iqbal told VOI, Tuesday, March 28.

Quoted from the Bapanas letter sent to Bulog dated March 24, Head of Badanas Arief Prasetyo Adi said that this was the result of a meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) regarding the availability of basic materials and preparations for arranging the Eid Al-Fitr 1444 H homecoming.

"We assigned Perum Bulog to carry out the procurement of government rice reserves (CBP) from abroad of 2 million tons until the end of December 2023. The first procurement of 500 thousand tons should be carried out as soon as possible," the letter reads.

Still in the letter, Arief said that the rice supply would be used to send social assistance (bansos) through the Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) program. Where rice aid will be distributed to 21,353 beneficiary families (KPM).

"Procurement of rice from abroad is to maintain domestic production interests. As well as provide aspects of accountability and good governance in accordance with statutory provisions," said Arief.

Despite carrying out foreign procurement, Arief asked Bulog to optimally absorb rice harvested by domestic farmers. Especially during the main harvest season from March to May 2023.