Minister Of Agriculture Asks Bulog To Buy Farmers' Grain, Head Of Badanas: Can Be Absorbed For Commercial Rice

Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said that the absorption of grain by Bulog could be done for commercial rice purposes. However, with a record of abundant grain production.

Furthermore, Arief said, if Bulog took part in the absorption of grain from farmers to be processed into public rice, it would trigger an increase in rice prices.

"Currently, Bulog's HPP is already Rp. 5,000 for grain, but I have asked Bulog for all of Indonesia, if it is for commercial, he can absorb the market price," he told reporters in Jakarta, Monday, April 1.

"For example, if the price is IDR 6,000, friends can absorb it but it can't interfere if the production is not full, don't be disturbed. Because if Bulog goes too deep, it will spur high prices again," he continued.

Previously, the Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman asked Perum Bulog to buy grain from farmers' crops, so that Bulog does not only absorb rice.

"Please Bulog if possible, Bulog buys unhulled rice from farmers, because farmers only sell grain. You can buy rice, but also buy unhulled rice from farmers," he said during an assembly on standby to secure supplies and food prices ahead of Eid Al-Fitr 2024, quoted from YouTube. Badanas, Monday, April 1.

Furthermore, Amran explained, if the government, in this case Perum Bulog, participates in absorbing farmers' unhulled rice, then the price of unhulled rice at the farmer level will not fall.

"So that the government also meets with farmers because we get information that they have started shouting because the price of unhulled rice has dropped," he said.