Jokowi: Bulog Needs To Absorb As Many Farmers' Grain As Possible To Maintain Price Balance

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (right) spoke with the President Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso (left) (photo: dock. intermediate)

SRAGEN - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked Perum Bulog to absorb as much unhulled rice as possible to maintain a balance of prices among farmers, sellers, and the public. This was conveyed by the President when inaugurating the rice milling center owned by Perum Bulog in Sragen Regency, Central Java.

"Therefore, this morning I asked Bulog, Mr. President Director, to absorb as much grain as possible from farmers," Jokowi said in a written statement received in Jakarta, Saturday, March 11, quoted by Antara.

In addition to absorbing grain from farmers, the President also emphasized the importance of applying the ideal harvest dry grain (GKP) price in the absorption of grain from farmers. The price of the GKP will later be determined by the Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi.

"We want prices in farmers to be reasonable, then prices in traders are reasonable, all of them can be profitable and consumer prices or prices in the community are also in a reasonable position, maintaining this balance is not easy," said Jokowi.

The President wants a price balance between farmers, sellers, and the public. To help create a balance of prices, the President emphasized the importance of Bulog's role in maintaining a national rice reserve stock of 2.4 million tons.

"This year I have ordered Bulog to be ready with a figure of 2.4 million tons, so that it will bring better price stability," he said.

Bulog itself has operated modern rice milling facilities in six rice-producing areas, namely Subang, Kendal, Karawang, Lampung, Bojonegoro, and Magetan. It is hoped that with these facilities, Bulog can maintain the national rice reserve stock well and bring better price stability in the future.