Bulog CEO Hopes for State Budget Support for the Procurement of 4 Million Tons of Rice in 2026

Director of Perum Bulog Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Perum Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani hopes that the State Budget (APBN) support for the procurement of four million tons of rice in 2026 will ensure optimal absorption of farmers' rice with efficient financing.

In a press conference titled Bulog's Crucial Achievements 2025 and Strategic Steps 2026, in Jakarta, Friday, January 2, Rizal said his party was preparing a budget and coordinating intensively with the Ministry of Finance for discussion of the funding scheme.

"The budget is being prepared, we are coordinating in the near future with the Ministry of Finance. We will meet as soon as possible, especially for the absorption task of four million tons of rice plus one million tons of corn," said Rizal, quoted by Antara.

He said his party had a target for absorption in 2026, including four million tons of rice equivalent and an additional one million tons of corn.

According to him, financing through Himbara banking has the potential to increase interest burden, so that the support of the State Budget or alternative low-cost funding is considered important to maintain the efficiency of the procurement of national food in a stable manner.

"And our hope is that we can get support from the state budget if necessary so that there are no more interest. If you have to borrow from banks, the interest is quite high," he said.

Another support option being considered is a low-interest Government Investment Operator (OIP) fund to maintain liquidity and prevent the absorption of rice and corn from farmers from being hampered during the harvest season.

"Hopefully we can get the APBN or get OIP assistance funds with a yield of only two percent," said Rizal.

With adequate budget support, Bulog is optimistic that procurement will run smoothly, purchase prices will be maintained, farmers will be protected, and national food reserves will be stronger in 2026.

"Well, maybe we will later meet with the Minister of Finance (Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa), so that there will be immediate follow-up on the absorption of rice and corn," said Rizal.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Food and Agriculture Zulkifli Hasan said the government's rice reserve procurement target (CBP) of four million tons in 2026 to strengthen the Food Supply and Price Stabilization or SPHP to food assistance.

The decision to increase the government's rice reserves (CBP) from three million to four million tons this year so that the government can more easily intervene in the market in order to maintain the stability of the supply and price of rice for the community through SPHP and distribute national food assistance quickly and accurately.

"We decided that the government's rice reserves of three million tons, we will increase to four million tons so that it will be easier for SPHP, for food assistance, and so on," said Zulhas, his nickname, when he was met in Jakarta, Monday, December 29, 2025.

The addition of the rice absorption target is important to strengthen the role of Perum Bulog as a supporter of long-term, sustainable, fair, and effective national food stabilization for farmers.