Medium Minim Rice Stock, Modern Retail Entrepreneurs Ask To Be Supplied By Bulog

Rice Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Modern Retail Entrepreneurs Association (Aprindo) has asked Perum Bulog to facilitate the distribution of medium rice in modern retail stores. The reason is, the rice stock is currently minimal.

Previously, Aprindo had also signed a Bulog medium rice supply agreement for the Supply and Food Price Stability (SPHP) program. The agreement is valid until the end of December 31, 2023.

"We hope (rice) will be launched, we have MoU with Bulog. Every week we evaluate it," said Aprindo Chairman Roy Nicholas Mandey when met at the meeting of the Indonesian Modern Market Producers Association at Balai Sudirman, Jakarta, Thursday, February 23.

Furthermore, Roy explained, Perum Bulog through regional offices has also collaborated with Aprindo members throughout Indonesia. Retail stores will receive Bulog rice in the form of 5 kilograms (kg) of packaging.

The Bulog rice is sold for IDR 47,250 for a size of 5 kg. As for the price per kg, it is IDR 9,450 in accordance with the regulation on the highest retail price (HET) of Rice.

"We have collaborated with Aprindo members throughout Indonesia. We accept it as of 5kg, there is no receipt in the form of sacks, we don't have any packaging, right," he said.

However, Roy admits that he understands that the process of distributing Bulog rice to modern retail does take time. Especially because of the limited packaging and labor machines, it takes more time.

"We have coordinated with Kelapa Bapanas (National Food Agency) where Aprindo has empty members so that they can be prioritized to be supplied. So they (Bulog) are still working, maximally. This is not easy, but it should be decomposable, it can still be decomposed," he said.

Roy admits that Bulog rice that enters modern retail is mostly new to buying big cities, especially the Jabodetabek area. As for the East region, not yet. This is due to distance and logistical factors.

"It's via ship. Along with the delivery, the rice is running out. That's why the fluctuations and the price of rice (non-Bulog) penetrated the HET because there were no goods. It's not yet a big harvest yet," he said.