Badanas: Strengthening CBP Stock From Domestic Production Is The Main Attention

Photo: Doc. Antara

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi emphasized that strengthening the government's rice reserve stock (CBP) from domestic production is the main concern in strengthening national food security.

"We understand that the Banpang (food assistance) rice program continues to be run and sourced from CBP stock. For this reason, strengthening CBP stock when domestic production is our main concern," said Arief in a statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Saturday, June 1.

Arief said that currently, the government's rice reserves managed by Perum Bulog until May 28 reached up to 1.8 million tons.

The Head of Bapanas believes that the total stock will continue to grow, because Bulog consistently absorbs domestic rice yields.

"This is because we want in the future when the dry season hits or there is a global food condition, we are able to overcome this by distributing CBP to help the community through various programs," explained Arief.

He explained that based on the Global Report On Food Crisis 2024 compiled by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) and Global Network Against Food Crisis, extreme weather is one of the main causes of high level acute food insecurity for at least 18 countries with more than 72 million inhabitants.

That number, continued Arief, increased compared to 2022, which at that time consisted of 12 countries with 56.8 million people affected by acute food hazards. However, Arief did not specify the countries mentioned.

In addition, El Nino and the climate change weather phenomenon have made 2023 the hottest year ever recorded.

In this 2024 projection, added Arief, flooding and extreme weather due to the muson wind and hurricane winds are still a concern, especially in the Asian region.

"Therefore, we make sure to continue to monitor and ensure that CBP's stock is in good condition. As of today, 1.8 million tons and this will continue to grow," said Arief.

Arief further said that according to the Regional Samples of the Central Statistics Agency (KSA BPS) until May, there is still a surplus of rice monthly consumption.

"So this is indeed the time for CBP to continue to be added, so that later during the dry season, the government will be free to distribute it in helping the community," explained Arief.

Arief also said, looking at the data from KSA BPS observations from April 2024, rice production from January to July is projected to reach 18.74 million tons. Of that total, it is estimated that there can be a surplus of production to consumption at around 650 thousand tons.

In April 2024, the estimated rice production will be at 5.31 million tons. Then in May 2024, production is estimated to be up to 3.58 million tons, and in June 2024 at 2.01 million tons and in July 2024 at 2.15 million tons.

Meanwhile, the realization of domestically produced rice absorption by Perum Bulog until May 26 has touched a total of 601,000 tons. This consists of procurement for CBP 517 thousand tons and commercial rice 83 thousand tons.

"As a comparison, the realization of domestic rice procurement by Bulog in 2023 the total for a year is at 1.066 million tons," said Arief.