Good News From Central Sulawesi, Bulog Launches "Maleo Rice" Mainstay Of The Province

Launching of Maleo Rice in Palu City, Central Sulawesi, Wednesday, December 29 (Photo: Muhammad Izfaldi/Antara)

JAKARTA - Public Company Bulog Regional Office (Kanwil) Central Sulawesi launched a local premium rice commodity, as one of Central Sulawesi's mainstay products, named 'Maleo Rice', Wednesday, December 29.

Maleo Rice itself has obtained an official permit from the government through the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) with the distribution permit number of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture PD.72.13-A.I-01-00006-5/2021.

The presence of Maleo Rice is considered to be one of the driving forces for economic growth and welfare among local farmers.

"This is premium rice belonging to the people of Central Sulawesi, of course at the right price as we take premium rice from farmers, so it is an option for us to empower local farmers because the quality of this rice is not inferior to others," said Head of the Central Sulawesi Bulog Regional Office, Basirun, as reported by Antara in Palu City, Wednesday, December 29.

He explained that despite its status as premium rice, Central Sulawesi Bulog marketed Maleo Rice at an affordable price, even much cheaper than the price of premium rice in general.

In accordance with Presidential Regulation (Perpres) number 48, the absorption of rice belonging to local farmers by Bulog is also intended to stabilize food prices, as well as improve the economic quality of local communities.

"This is proven in the records of Bank Indonesia, which states that price stabilization in the Central Sulawesi region throughout 2021 is within normal limits, even the economic growth rate has increased to double digits," explained Basirun.

In addition to the launch of premium Maleo Rice, Central Sulawesi Bulog also signed a collaboration with the Palu City government, Sigi Regency government, and Donggala Regency government in the procurement of rice for State Civil Apparatus (ASN).

Business Director of Perum Bulog RI, Febby Novita, said the collaboration was an effort to transform Bulog's business to ensure the availability of state food reserves, as well as food availability for commercial purposes to maintain price stabilization.

This is in line with the vision contained in Presidential Instruction (Inpres) number 5, which regulates the price of rice absorption from farmers by Bulog.

"We ask the provincial government here, the district/city government to thoroughly disseminate this Presidential Instruction, because it includes criteria for rice that Bulog must absorb, such as water content and several other indicators," Bulog's Business Director Febby Novita told ANTARA after the launch of Maleo Rice in Palu City, Wednesday afternoon.

Her party also plans to expand collaboration between Bulog and the remaining 10 local governments, apart from the cities of Palu, Sigi, and Donggala.

She added that one of the collaboration concepts that Bulog has designed is the collaboration of cheap market packages and vaccinations.

Thus, in addition to helping the community to fulfill their basic needs at low prices, it also helps the local district government to carry out vaccinations for its citizens.