President Director Of Logistics Agency Budi Waseso: Government Maintains Achievement Of 3 Years Of No Rice Imports Thanks To Translucent Absorption Of 1.2 Million Tons

Bulog President Director Budi Waseso. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Until the end of 2021, the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) has consistently carried out its duties to secure the price of unhulled rice at the farm level by absorbing farmers' rice which has reached 1.2 million tons. That way, Bulog ensures that this year there is no need to bring in Government Rice Reserves (CBP) from abroad.

President Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso (Buwas) said the realization of domestic rice procurement until the third week of 2021 was 1.2 million tons, this is a higher achievement compared to the previous three years.

"This domestic absorption of rice is very helpful for Indonesian farmers who have difficulty selling their rice during the COVID-19 pandemic and also maintains the government's achievement of not importing rice for the last 3 years," he said in an official statement, Tuesday, December 28.

Budi Waseso also said based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) that the estimated national rice production in the first quarter of 2022 was 11.61 million tons. According to Budi, Bulog is always ready to reabsorb the production to maintain price stability at the farm level.

"In addition to cultivating stocks as the government's rice reserves, this activity of absorbing grain/rice for domestic farmers also moves the economy at the farmer level so that it can restore the wheels of the economy in accordance with the direction of President Jokowi during the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

Throughout 2021, Bulog will also play an important role in maintaining rice price stability at the consumer level by carrying out market operations which are now called KPSH (Supply Availability and Price Stabilization). So far, Bulog has distributed nearly 700 thousand tons of rice Supply Availability and Price Stabilization (KPSH) by involving various stakeholders.

Then, to ease the burden of spending on daily basic needs for the community due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The government through the Ministry of Social Affairs and Perum Bulog this year also succeeded in distributing PPKM Rice Aid (BB-PPKM) completely 100 percent to Beneficiary Families (KPM) for a total of 28.8 million KPM throughout Indonesia.

Then, continued Budi, in the second year of this pandemic and as a form of real commitment the company that creates shared value for the community Bulog has distributed Fortivit Rice to 7 Provinces for 2.150 Toddlers to support the government's program to reduce stunting prevalence (short children).

Budi said Bulog was also quick to respond to national disasters by distributing 8.500 tons of Emergency Response Rice throughout 2021.