Bulog Targets 600,000 Tons Of Imported Rice Entering The Republic Of Indonesia By The End Of March 2024

Bulog Rice (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Perum Bulog targets as much as 600,000 tons of imported rice to enter Indonesia by the end of March 2024.

General Manager of the Bulog Business Unit of the Niaga Center, Topan Ruspayandi, said that as many as 100,000 tons came from the remaining import assignments in 2023 and as many as 500,000 tons from import assignments this year. Topan said that currently the government has a rice stock of 1.2 million tons.

"We on hand (current stock) have 1.2 million tons of rice. Then, yesterday, imports in 2023 had entered 350,000-400,000 tons. We still have carry out from the realization of 500,000 tons of import permits in 2023. So, approximately only 100,000 tons left," said Topan in a discussion forum entitled "The Arrah of Indonesian Food Policy after the 2024 General Election" in Jakarta, quoted on Saturday, February 10.

Topan said that about two weeks ago his party had invited dozens of rice producer exporters to open auction contracts. From this contract, Bulog managed to get 500,000 tons of imported rice for 2024. Thus, a total of 600,000 tons will enter Indonesia.

"We have contracted 500,000 tons. The target is all March (2024) to enter. So, carry out is the remaining 100,000 tons (imports 2023) and 500,000 tons are new contracts," he said.

In addition, he said rice imports are also a challenge for themselves. The reason is, Indonesia must compete with 22 rice producing countries that prohibit exports. Therefore, various efforts are needed to meet the government's rice reserves, one of which is diplomacy.

Previously, the President Director of Perum Bulog Bayu Krisnamurthi revealed that the government had processed imports of two- (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.

In addition, the imported rice is used to process the spread of rice food aid as well as an effort to stabilize food supply and prices (SPHP) or market operations.