At The End Of The Year Is Safe, Jokowi Ensures National Rice Stocks Are Acquired

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that the national rice stock was in adequate condition. He conveyed this during a direct visit to the Bulog Dramaga warehouse in Bogor, West Java.

"These are all countries experiencing drought, El Nino, including Indonesia. Therefore, we come to Bulog warehouses to ensure there are stocks, goods are there, rice is there," he said in an official statement on Monday, September 11.

According to the President, from the results of the checking, it was known that Bulog's rice stock was currently recorded at 1.6 million tons. It was stated that the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) will continue to be increased through domestic rice absorption as well as foreign procurement, and as many as 400,000 tons will be included in the near future.

"There are 1.6 million tons of rice stocks in Bulog, on the way there are 400,000 tons, so there will be 2 million in stock. Usually, the normal stock is 1.2 million tons, so we don't have to worry, the stock is enough," he said.

On this occasion, the Head of State also symbolically inaugurated the launch of social assistance (bansos) in the form of rice as much as 210,000 tons from September to November to 21.35 million recipients.

The total allocation of rice provided by the government for this program is around 640,000 tons. This step is also to be able to encourage the control of rice prices in the market.

People should not be affected by rice prices. Our inflation is still maintained at 3.2 percent, said the President.

On the same occasion, Head of the National Food Agency (NFA) Arief Prasetyo Adi, who accompanied the President, said that under any conditions, the government must have a qualified CBP stock. He predicts that the decline in grain/rice production could range from 5 percent as a result of climate conditions.

El Nino this year has become a global phenomenon that affects food production. However, according to the President's direction to ensure that national food stocks for the community can always be safe and sufficient, NFA and Bulog will commit to preparing stocks until next year, until February and April 2024, because in February there will be elections and April there will be Eid al-Fitr," he said.

Furthermore, Arief appealed to the public not to worry too much about the shortage of national rice stocks. He invited the public to remain calm because the government ensured that the national rice stock was available, safe, and sufficient.

"Let's always apply wise spending. This can be a joint contribution in maintaining food security. Through shopping as needed, it will maintain demand trends and prices will not be volatile in the market," Arief concluded.