Bulog Boss Says 2 Million Tons Of Rice Imports Have Been Processed

President Director of Perum Bulog Bayu Krisnamurthi. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - President Director of Perum Bulog Bayu Krisnamurthi revealed that the government has processed imports of 2 million tons of rice for 2024.

This assignment is a continuation of rice imports that have been carried out since 2023.

"It's already in process," said Bayu at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Jakarta, Monday, January 29.

Bayu said the reason for reopening the tap for importing rice was due to the fulfillment of domestic rice stocks.

The imported rice is used to process the distribution of rice food aid.

In addition, he continued, imported rice will also be used to stabilize food supply and prices (SPHP) or market operations.

"Everything is being carried out to be able to support the Bulog task program for food assistance and SPHP," he explained.

Previously reported, the government through the National Food Agency (NFA) assigned Perum Bulog to import rice of 2 million tons of rice this year.

This import is carried out to fulfill the government's Rice Reserve (CBP) in Bulog.

For your information, import assignments to Perum Bulog have been carried out for three consecutive years.

In detail, in 2022 the import tap will be opened as much as 500,000 tons.

Then, in 2023 the government will reopen the import tap as much as 2 million and the additional import quota of 1.5 million tons.

Meanwhile, this year, the plan is to open 2 million tons of imports.

Head of the National Food Agency (NFA) Arief Prasetyo Adi said the policy was a bitter alternative that had to be taken in conditions where national rice production was declining due to climate change in El Nino that occurred in 2023.

As a result, continued Arief, the impact of El Nino's climate change was felt a few months later, so that in early 2024 there was a monthly rice balance deficit.

Referring to BPS data, Arief said it was estimated that Indonesia would experience a rice deficit in January-February 2024.

The Minus in January 2024 is estimated at 1.61 million tons and in February 2024 at 1.22 million tons. The total deficit is 2.83 million tons of rice.

Furthermore, Arief said, this condition can lead to an escalation of rice prices, so there needs to be anticipation. As a result, the fulfillment of CBP through imports is the solution.

"This importation is a bitter alternative, but we must do it. We both know that the condition of national rice production has decreased due to the impact of climate change and El Nino," he said in an official statement, Tuesday, January 16.

Moreover, continued Arief, according to the assignment, the CBP stock in Perum Bulog is set at least 1 million tons.

This CBP is prepared for government intervention in the event of a shortage of rice and price stabilization.

"We also use the rice from imports to strengthen CBP stocks," he said.