Head Of Badanas Arief Prasetyo: Imports Of 1.6 Million Tons To Prevent Risk Of Rice Shortage

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo stated that additional rice imports of 1.6 million tons were aimed at preventing the risk of rice shortages.

"Why are 1.6 million (tonnes) additional, this is what is called an early warning system, don't have an incident ( rare rice), we don't have stock or just look for it. Later the price of rice in the world will be high," said Arief in Depok, West Java, quoted from Antara, Tuesday 27 February.

Arief said that the government must have government rice reserves (CBP) to prevent scarcity, both caused by weather threats and domestic production that are disturbed by pests.

Arief said, anticipating the scarcity of rice cannot be done suddenly, it takes preparation for the next three months.

Therefore, the rice import plan is a mitigation step to meet domestic rice needs which reaches 2.5 million tons per month.

However, rice imports will not harm local production. According to Arief, rice imported from abroad has been adjusted to the amount of deficiencies between production and national consumption.

Badanas has also coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) regarding weather predictions due to direct contact with the main harvest season.

"The importation carried out by the government is measurable importation, so we must also maintain it at the farmer level properly, upstream and downstream. If Mr. President (Joko Widodo) the message must be maintained properly," said Arief.

Meanwhile, to boost domestic rice production, President Joko Widodo has approved the addition of subsidized fertilizer from 4.7 million tons to 9.55 million tons. This policy aims to encourage food productivity.

"In addition, it is necessary to build a bore well for water. So whether El Nino wants it, there is no rain, the rice fields still have water. So these activities must be carried out, they must be started," said Arief.