Good News From Budi Waseso: Bulog Will Not Import Rice This Year

JAKARTA - The President Director of Bulog, Budi Waseso, confirmed that he would not import rice this year because the government's rice reserve stock (CBP) in Bulog's warehouse had reached 1.3 million tons and would continue to grow.

"Until now, Bulog has a stock of close to 1.5 million tons for this month. We may still absorb it until June because there is still harvest left in this May, so the number we are reporting will continue to increase", said Budi Waseso in a hearing with Indonesia Parliament of Commission IV in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, May 18.

Meanwhile, for August to September 2021, Budi Waseso estimates that Bulog will still absorb the farmers' rice harvest planted in the dry season or commonly known as the gadu harvest. Therefore, he explained the government's stipulation that Bulog's CBP stock must be in the range of 1 million to 1.5 million tonnes.

"So we can guarantee that until the end of this year, especially Bulog, it will not import rice from abroad, because the need for CBP has been met", said Budi Waseso.

Bulog recorded the realization of the procurement of unhulled rice and rice from January to May 17, 2021, amounting to 670,916 tons. By utilizing the momentum of the main harvest, Perum Bulog has optimized domestic rice procurement to maintain CBP stocks in the range of 1 million to 1.5 million tons.

As of May 17, 2021, rice stocks in Bulog's warehouses reached 1,395,376 tons, consisting of 1,378,047 tons of CBP stocks and the remaining 17,329 tons of commercial rice.

According to Budi Waseso, the stock is sufficient for sales of Supply Availability and Price Stabilization (KPSH) or market operations, disaster emergency response, and social assistance.

He also noted that there was no increase in rice prices during the month of Ramadan, before Eid, or after Eid.