Red Light For Imports, Bulog Boss Budi Waseso Will Focus On Absorbing Domestic Rice

Bulog President Director Budi Waseso. (Photo: Doc. Bulog)

JAKARTA - The President Director of the Logistics Business Entity (Bulog) Budi Waseso stated that the projection for the management of the Government's Rice Reserves for the 2022 FY is 1.25 million tons, only through domestic procurement. Meanwhile, there is no procurement of rice from abroad or imports.

"Regarding the 2022 plan, discussions with the relevant ministries are still in the early stages and are still dynamic," he said during a hearing with Commission IV of the DPR, Monday, August 30.

Buwas said the initial stock assumption for 2022 will be in the range of 1 million tons, then distribution of 1.21 million tons, and year-end inventory stock will be in the range of 1.03 million tons.

For distribution targets next year, the plan will include the Availability of Supply and Price Stabilization (KPSH) program of 850,000 tons and rice for the budget group of 100,000 tons.

The company also plans to prepare 250,000 tons of stock for distribution of government aid and 15,000 tons of CBP stock for disasters.

Buwas also informed that Bulog's rice stock as of August 27, 2021 amounted to 1.16 million tons, consisting of 1.14 million tons of CBP and 14,000 tons of commercial rice.

He said he was optimistic that the amount of rice that was still stored would be sufficient to meet the needs of KPSH or market operations, as well as disaster emergency response.

Meanwhile, the total realization of rice procurement by Bulog until August 27, 2021, has reached 908,000 tons or around 63 percent of the 2021 target. Meanwhile, rice distribution has reached 305,000 tons. Consisting of 245,000 for KPSH, 4,000 tons for disaster emergency response, and 55,000 tons for budget groups.

The realization of rice throughout 2020 reached 1.3 million tons. Where, the realization of the use of CBP for supply availability and price stabilization programs reached 1 million tons and natural disasters 11,000 tons. Meanwhile, the amount of rice managed by Bulog as of December 31, 2020 was 981,000 tons.

Buwas claims that throughout 2020 Bulog has successfully carried out assignments to distribute 83,000 tons of presidential aid, 450,000 tons of rice social assistance, and 11,000 tons of CBP for disaster management.

"So that the handling of the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic on the food sector is relatively under control," he said.