Rice Production This Year Is Predicted To Be Less Than 5 Million Tons, Will The Import Quota Be Added?

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi revealed, there is a potential shortage of domestic rice production this year. In fact, the shortfall is predicted to reach 5 million tons.

"This is a potential shortage, approximately 5 million, potential shortfall (production this year)," he said at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Monday, June 10.

When asked if there was any additional rice imports this year to cover the shortage, Arief admitted that he could not confirm it.

Even so, he continued, from the quota of 3 million tons of imported quotas given to Perum Bulog, only 2 million tons were realized. This means that there are still 1.6 million tons.

"Right now, from 3.6 million tons, we want to slowly only 2 million, later if needed (imports) we will do it," he explained.

However, said Arief, his party is currently encouraging domestic rice production to meet domestic rice needs.

The reason is, the budget needed for imports is very large.

"We will try from within the country. We are still asking to encourage domestic production. Unfortunately, 3 million tons of imports are Rp. 30 trillion," he said.

Moreover, continued Arief, importing is also quite difficult because the procedures are complicated.

Starting from the search for goods, the price is uncertain because it follows the US dollar exchange rate to time-consuming loading and unloading.

"Take it from outside, it's also an effort, we're not easy to find goods. Currency is already Rp. 16,200, today is Rp. 16,300, dear. It's better in Indonesia, whatever the way, including the availability of water, fertilizers, seeds, the increase in land area, which is the diversity in the Ministry of Agriculture," he explained.