Trade Minister Zulhas Expressed The Reason Why Indonesia Imports 200,000 Tons Of Rice: Keep Market Price Stability

The government's imported rice arrived at Tanjung Priok Port (Doc. Bulog)

YOGYAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) officially opened the tap for rice imports.

As many as 200,000 rice will be imported in stages from Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan until the end of December 2022.

Of this amount, 10,000 tons of rice from Vietnam has entered the country on December 16, 2022. So, what is the reason Indonesia imports rice?

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said rice import steps were taken to maintain the stability of rice prices in the market.

"Actually, there is no one who wants to import rice, if our production is sufficient. Why should we import rice if there is rice," said the Trade Minister, quoted by VOI from Antara, Monday, December 19, 2022.

Although data from the Ministry of Agriculture shows a rice surplus, rice prices continue to increase significantly, reaching IDR 10,000 per liter. Finally, Bulog decided to carry out market operations at a price of IDR 8,300 per liter.

Thus, people can choose, there are rice that is branded, premium, and rice from Bulog which is guaranteed to be priced by the Government.

"It continues to be disbursed, because of that Bulog's stock has decreased a lot. Therefore, we must look for it. If there is less market confidence, we will cancel it, buy it in any market, the Head of Bulog can even buy it over Rp. 5,000, even reaching Rp. 6 thousand. The last rice was at Rp. 10,200, wanted but couldn't," said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.

Zulhas the Minister of Trade's nickname added that if rice stocks in Bulog run low, it will raise issues in the market and cause prices to get out of control.

"We don't want to, because rice is staple food in Indonesia. We have tried to find it three times and six days but we can't. So we decided to import it, to increase Bulog reserves by 500 thousand tons. This has just arrived 200 thousand tons," said Zulhas.

The Minister of Trade stated that the process of restoring rice reserves at Perum Bulog will be completed in January 2023, so that during the harvest season in March 2023, Bulog will buy rice reserves from farmers' crops.

In line with Zulhas, the President Director of Perum Bulog, Budi Waseso, ensured that rice price stability in the market could be maintained by increasing government rice reserves controlled by Bulog.

The man who is familiarly called Buwas added, on December 16, 2022, Indonesia received 10 thousand tons of rice from Vietnam.

In detail, as much as 5 thousand tons of rice entered through Tanjung Priok Port and 5 thousand tons was imported through Merak Port.

"Alhamdulillah, Bulog received an additional 10,000 tons of government rice reserves (CBP) for first imported ships from Vietnam and will continue to grow because there are many imported ships from Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan and Myanmar who are already queuing will dock," said Buwas.

Meanwhile, Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi emphasized that the import of rice was not Bulog's wish.

The rice import policy was decided in two coordination meetings which were attended by various policy makers in order to increase the government's rice reserve stock in order to maintain price stability in the market.

"If imported rice is needed, it will be disbursed in order to face Christmas and New Year so that there is no price fluctuation," said Arief.

For information, as much as 200 thousand tons of rice will enter Indonesia in stages through 14 port points, namely Malahayati Port and Lhokseumawe (Aceh), Belawan (Medan), Dumai (Riau), Teluk Bayur (Padang), Boom Baru (Palembang), Panjang (Lampung), Tanjung Priok (Jakarta), Merak (Banten), Tanjung Perak (Surabaya), and Tenau (Kupang). Then the rest will be realized next year until before the harvest season.

The rice import policy is solely to strengthen national rice reserves. This policy will not interfere with farmers' rice because it is only used under certain conditions. Such as disaster management, price intervention if necessary, and several government activities.

That's information about the reason why Indonesia imports rice. To get the most news up to date, keep looking at VOI.id.