Food SOEs Get IDR 28.7 Trillion Loans From The Ministry Of Finance, What Are They Used For?

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) and the National Food Agency have prepared loan funds of Rp. 28,772,200,000,000 or Rp. 28.7 trillion for food SOEs, ID FOOD and Perum Bulog.

The loan has low interest rates because it is subsidized by the government. The amount of interest subsidies for unsecured loans is 3 to 4.5 percent. The loan interest rate imposed by the distributor is reduced by the rate of interest subsidies.

Meanwhile, if with collateral, interest subsidies are given at 2 to 3 percent. The loan interest rate after being given government guarantees is reduced by the interest subsidy rate.

Then, what are the loan funds used for this cheap interest?

The President Director of ID FOOD, Frans Marganda Tambunan, explained that the loan funds from the Ministry of Finance will be used to absorb 12 Government Food Reserves (CPP) commodities.

The commodities in question are rice, corn, soybeans, shallots, garlic, chilies, fish, beef, broiler meat, broiler eggs, sugar, and cooking oil consumi.

"(This loan fund) was given to Bulog and ID FOOD to support the government's food reserve program for 12 commodities," he told reporters at Waskita Rajawali Tower, Jakarta, written Tuesday, January 9.

Of the 12 commodities, continued Frans, rice, soybeans and corn are the tasks of Perum Bulog. While the rest are cooking oil, chicken meat, chicken eggs, ruminansia meat, fish, shallots, garlic, chilies, and sugar is the duty of ID FOOD.

Regarding loan interest at 2 to 3 percent, Frans said that ID FOOD had no problem with the amount. According to him, the loan interest is much lower than commercial.

"Now when compared to commercial, how many interest rates do you have? Yes, 9-10, the government has helped, thank God," he said.

Regarding absorption, Frans said that ID FOOD occurs in chicken meat and chicken eggs.

This is because ID FOOD is still continuing its assignment regarding the stunting alleviation food assistance program to 1.4 million stunting-prone families (KRS) in 7 provinces.

"Then the most likely absorption is in cooking oil, beef, and sugar," he said.