Badanas: Bulog Rice Starts Filling Modern And Traditional Retail Markets

Head of NFA Arief Prasetyo (Photo: dock. Antara)

Head of the National Food Agency (NFA) Arief Prasetyo Adi revealed that as much as 50,000 tons of rice from Perum Bulog had begun to enter the Cipinang Rice Main Market (PIBC), East Jakarta.

Arief said that this step was an order from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to move quickly to stabilize national relations with Perum Bulog, PT Food Station Tjipinang Raya, the Indonesian Rice Milling Association and Entrepreneurs (Perpadi), and the Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association (Aprindo).

"Bulog's 50000 tons of rice will be distributed to PIBC and then packaged in 5 kg of rice and distributed to modern retailers," he said in an official statement, Tuesday, February 13.

After receiving directions from President Jokowi, Arief said that his party was coordinating with PERPADI, PIBC, Bulog plus APRINDO to fill stock in modern and traditional markets.

"So first of all, our task is to fill the stock in the market, we have been keeping stock in the modern market for two days. Supposedly until Lebaran, the rice stock is safe and maintained," he said.

According to Arief, this stock filling is not difficult. The reason is, currently Bulog's rice stock is reaching many 1.3 million tons.

"This is not difficult, what is difficult is if there is no rice, this is now a lot of rice. This is because Bulog has a total rice stock of 1.3 million tons and this has been prepared by the government from a long time ago. Government Food Reserves (CPP) must exist," said Arief.

Even so, Arief invites the wider community to continue to apply spending wisely that is reasonable and in accordance with needs. This is important so that equity can occur in every element of society.

What needs to be explained to the wider community, if we cook at home, 5 kilograms (kg), 10 kg is enough. But if you buy up to 5-10 tons, that's definitely a trader. So if you are in retail, you buy a small package of 5 kg. If it's not limited, the stock in the store will run out quickly. Friends at retail also don't want the stock to be empty," explained Arief.

"So people just shop as necessary, don't worry, because it will be fully met. If it is a month's need, for example 2-3 packs, there is no need for up to 10 packs. If 2 packs of households are sufficient. All of this is for equity. So don't say the rice is limited to 2 packs because the stock is lacking," he continued.

Furthermore, Arief said that his party would prepare a large harvest which might be in March. The focus is to maintain prices at the farmer level so as not to experience excessive depreciation.

"Well, next month, starting now we have to prepare how to keep prices at the farm level so that they don't fall. Usually, when the harvest starts above 2 million to 3 million tons, the price of unhulled rice at the farmer level begins to fall. So this is what we have to take care of," he said.