The World Faces A Food Crisis, How Is Indonesia's Rice Stock Condition?

JAKARTA - The world is currently not doing well. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic plus the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has had an impact on the world's energy and food sectors.

This condition makes President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) worried. The reason is, lately in various public statements he alluded to the food crisis.

Jokowi said there were 345 million people at risk of food shortages and hunger, and 553 million people at risk of extreme poverty.

In fact, there are 107 countries affected by the crisis, some of which are estimated to have gone bankrupt.

Then, how is the condition of Indonesia's food security, especially rice?

Head of the Commodity Procurement Division of Perum Bulog, Budi Cahyanto, said that the condition of Indonesia's food security, especially rice, was safe.

He also ensured sufficient rice stock until the end of 2022 with a total of 1.1 million tons.

Budi said the rice stock was in accordance with FAO provisions and also as recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, based on the recommendation of analysts from Gadjah Mada University that with a total population of Indonesia, 1 to 1.5 million tons are needed.

"And now we have control over it and we will distribute it throughout Indonesia. For the rice itself, I think the stock is very strong, very good. So we don't really need to worry," Budi said in a virtual discussion, Friday, August 19.

Instead of a shortage of food stocks, said Budi, Indonesia is actually called a home for rice exports.

This is because Indonesia is considered the second largest rice producer in the world after China.

"We actually have the opportunity to export, don't forget that Indonesia is actually the second largest producer of rice in the world. In my opinion, Indonesia actually has the potential to export," he explained.

Budi said that if Indonesia were to export, the type of rice selected would only be found in Indonesia, while the export destination countries would be Saudi Arabia or Malaysia.

"We will orientate the rice exports that we will do specifically in Indonesia. For example, Pandan Wangi, Rojolele and Mentik Wangi or mentik rice, which may not exist in the world. export to countries that really need it," he said.

Bulog's desire is in line with the wishes of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Previously, Jokowi expressed his desire for Indonesia to export rice to help the food crisis facing the world today.

This desire departs from Indonesia, which has succeeded in being self-sufficient in rice since 2019.

This was conveyed by President Joko Widodo at the opening of the 2022 National Coordination Meeting for Inflation Control, broadcast from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube.

"We received a certificate of appreciation from the International Rice Research Institute for our food security system and rice self-sufficiency which we must maintain and improve. So that we will not only be self-sufficient in rice, but later we can export rice to help overcome food shortages in several countries," he said, Thursday. , August 18th.