Bulog Boss Doesn't Plan To Add Rice Import Quota This Year

JAKARTA - President Director of Perum Bulog Bayu Krisnamurthi admitted that he has no plans to increase the import quota of rice this year.

Considering that Bulog has pocketed an import quota of 3.6 million tons for 2024.

For your information, this year Bulog received an assignment of 2 million tons of imported quota. Then, there is an additional quota of rice imports of 1.6 million tons. That way, the quota that Bulog imports is 3.6 million tons.

Bayu explained that this figure is outside of 1 million tons of imports on carry-over from the quota set in 2023.

"Hopefully not, from the 3.6 (million tons), it's not from the 1 (million tons). Anyway, at this time I don't intend to ask for additional (imports)," said Bayu when met at his office, Jakarta, Tuesday, April 2.

He explained that domestic production is currently facing challenges. El Nino's dry storm is one of them. Then, there is the next challenge in the form of a La Nina wet storm.

Even so, Bayu is optimistic that local production can meet the national demand for rice.

"God willing, enough," said Bayu.

Meanwhile, Bayu said that out of 3.6 million tons of rice import quotas, 1 million tons have been realized. The rice is imported from Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Cambodia.

"650,000 tons have entered or are still at the port and 350,000 have been contracted," he said.