There Is COVID-19, Erick Thohir Guarantees Rice Stocks Ahead Of Eid Al-Fitr Safe And No Need To Import

JAKARTA - The Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) conducted a visit to Bulog's warehouse to ensure rice stocks, after the Indonesian government announced the corona virus or COVID-19 had entered Indonesian territory.

As a result, BUMN Minister Erick Thohir ensured that the rice stock owned by the government was sufficient to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. In fact, the stock is sufficient until the commemoration of Eid Al-Fitr or Lebaran.

"But the point is that we want the community to be clear, our conditions are safe. The government is present, there is a corona virus, if we are united, it is not excited. There is a way out. Likewise, Eid is close, we make sure the stock is there, the harvest is also fast. "he said, when met at Bulog Warehouse, Sunter, North Jakarta, Wednesday, March 4.

Erick explained that the current rice stock owned by the government is almost 1.6 million tons for all of Indonesia. However, this stock could increase considering there will be a big harvest.

Regarding what the government will do to deal with panic buying in the community, Erick explained, the only thing is to provide education to the public. This is because the government cannot prevent panic.

"We educate the public that we are ready, the stock is there. That's all we can do. If it prohibits people from panicking, it's not possible. We just want to provide transparency with facts and data, so it's not false assumptions. "he explained.

Erick also explained that the government is currently working to improve distribution in order to break the chain of the rice mafia. This is because the government does not want the people and farmers to become victims.

"I mean this, we have to trade, everything is win-win, equally good. Farmers cannot be sacrificed, people must buy at a good price. Traders can profit, that's a right. This is what is confirmed, Mr. Buwas (President Director of Bulog) as well. That is the same as we want these mafias to be aware of, "he said.

According to Erick, Indonesia cannot be anti-import. However, this is not done by cheating, so that the government must always import from outside in horror. In Bulog's warehouse, he said, there was also imported rice. However, there is also local rice from Sulawesi.

"We will also see imported rice here from India, Thailand but also local rice. There are still a lot of imports. If the percent is relatively fluctuating, look forward to seeing all the local harvest," he said.

Meanwhile, Head of Bulog, Budi Waseso, revealed that the harvest which will be carried out in March and April will increase the amount of rice stock by around 1.4 million tons. Even so, when the big harvest arrives, the rice stock currently in Bulog's warehouse must be distributed out.

"So it is estimated that from the Minister of Agriculture, our BPS harvest at the end of March and April is estimated to have a surplus of 2.8 million. This is if we talk about data. Bulog, at least with the condition of this warehouse, it is approximately over 1.4 million. We also issue this rice. In some places there will be harvesting. So that is what we will do later. It means that it is impossible for us to import special rice, "he said.