Badanas: Government Will Absorb 60 Thousand Tons Of Rice From Rice Milling

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi (Photo: Mery Handayani)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said that in the near future there will be an additional 60,000 tons of rice from 25 rice pangolins in Indonesia, to meet the government's rice reserves (CBP) at Perum Bulog.

"Indeed, in the near future we will fill around 60,000 tons of 25 rice pangolins, so that they can help Bulog's stock until before Eid," said Arief, met at the Ministry of Economy, Jakarta, Monday, March 20.

Arief said the price of unhulled rice sold was more than the Government Purchase Price (HPP) for Panen Dry Grain (GKP) of Rp. 5,000 per kilogram.

"Today's grain price is IDR 5,700, there is IDR 5,800, some are IDR 5,900, we ask that if possible it be below IDR 5,500," he said.

On the other hand, Arief hopes that Bulog can have a reserve of 1.2 million tons of rice to meet stock in one year. In fact, he has also ordered Bulog to stock 2.4 million tons of rice.

"Indeed, Badanas has assigned Bulog to stock 2.4 million tons this year. Hopefully in these 3 months the harvest will be good, so that 70 percent of it can be fulfilled," he said.

"While we continue to monitor together, because yesterday there was a correction to the submerged land, there were several points where the floods had to be corrected," he continued.

Previously, the President Director of Perum Bulog, Budi Waseso, revealed that the government's rice reserve stock (CBP) was only 230,000 tons. According to him, this stock is still sufficient for market operations.

"CBP 230,000 tons. For market operations, it is still sufficient," he said at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, March 20.

However, Buwas, Budi Waseso's nickname, is worried that the low stock of rice reserves will increase next month. Remember, next month Muslims will promote compassion and fasting, where at that time rice consumption will increase.

"That's for this month, ok. But we have an interest next month, including the distribution of social assistance which is 210,000 tons every month. Now that must be fulfilled, you know," he said.