Flood Handling Is Predicted To Be Longer, Bulog Increases Rice Stock In Aceh, North Sumatra And West Sumatra

Bulog rice (Photo: Doc. intermediate)

JAKARTA - Perum Bulog will double its rice stock in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. This step was taken to anticipate the handling of floods that lasted longer and had a broad impact.

Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani said the stock of rice in the affected areas had been absorbed for emergency needs. In Aceh, before the rice stock disaster, it was recorded at 97,416 tons and now only 82,296 tons.

Meanwhile, in North Sumatra (North Sumatra) the stock fell from 43,636 tons to 29,943 tons. Meanwhile, West Sumatra (West Sumatra) from 9,530 tons to 7,996 tons.

Rizal said, because. the decline, Bulog decided to double the stock in anticipation.

"We analyze the handling of the impact of disasters in the three provinces at this time will be longer and wider. Therefore, we have doubled the stock of rice in disaster areas," Rizal said in a virtual coordination meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs Office, Jakarta, Monday, December 1.

Rizal also ensured that the distribution of rice aid in disaster areas was carried out optimally to all regional governments (Pemda) in need, without exception.

"So we distribute this as much as possible and give the best rice," he said.

Rizal said the administrative process for the delivery of disaster rice had been made easier. Now, regional heads only need to send a letter requesting rice assistance to the Head of the National Food Agency which was copied to the Head of the Central Logistics Agency and the Regional Logistics Agency Office.

Furthermore, Rizal said the letter could immediately be evidence of the delivery of rice to flood-affected areas.

"So we do discretion, the goal is to speed up so that people don't lack rice or other logistics in disaster places," he said.

Rizal said to ensure that distribution runs smoothly, all levels of Bulog directors have also been assigned to be directly in the affected provinces. He said they were tasked with overseeing the distribution of aid and ensuring that it was right on target.

In addition, said Rizal, Bulog conducts daily monitoring to ensure food availability in safe conditions amid the increasing risk of distribution disruption due to disasters.

"We monitor daily and quick responses. We carry out daily monitoring by price monitoring, both in and in stock throughout the country. So this is also involved by friends from the center of the field task force and friends in the local government," he said.