Member Of Commission IV Of The DPR Asks For Bulog And Bapanas Proposal To Become Ministry Of Deep Education

Illustration - Makassar Bulog rice stock check. ANTARA/Nur Suhra Wardyah

JAKARTA Member of Commission IV DPR Hindun Anisah responded to the proposal to merge the Logistics Affairs Agency (Bulog) and the National Food Agency (Bapanas) into one ministry. According to him, the discourse needs to be studied in depth so as not to cause new problems in national food management.

Every proposal involving strategic institutions such as Bulog and Bapanas must be studied comprehensively. We need to look at the long-term benefits for food sovereignty, bureaucratic efficiency, and the welfare of farmers," said Hindun, Monday, October 13.

Hindun assessed that the merger of bodies into ministries could provide a number of advantages, including strengthening coordination and decision making in national food policies.

"Changes into ministries can also accelerate responses to food crises and price stabilization, as well as clarify the chain of command from upstream to downstream in food distribution," he said.

However, Hindun reminded that there are potential losses and challenges that need to be anticipated if the agency is transformed into a ministry. He considered, if this nomenclature change is not carefully prepared, there can be overlapping authority, to bureaucratic swelling.

"Or it actually slows down performance in the field. We don't want institutional reforms to actually add to the new burden," he said.

Therefore, Hindun emphasized whatever the form of institutions will be, the government must continue to focus on improving the distribution of national rice.

According to him, an efficient distribution chain is the key so that rice prices are stable and supply is maintained throughout Indonesia.

The most important thing is how this food policy has a direct impact on the welfare of farmers. Do not let farmers continue to be in a weak position in the national food value chain," concluded Hindun.