East Java Food Task Force Claims Safe Rice Stock Ahead Of Ramadan

The East Java Regional Police Food Task Force together with the Surabaya City Industry and Trade Office, as well as the Head of the Surabaya Bulog Branch while monitoring the availability of rice in the local city. ANTARA/HO-Bidhumas Polda East Java

The East Java Regional Police's Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus) stated that the availability or appearance of rice in the area was safe ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1445 Hijriah.

"We did not find a shortage of important basic commodities (bupokting) and quite a lot of rice stocks," said Head of Public Relations of the East Java Regional Police, Kombes Pol. Dirmanto on the sidelines of market inspection activities with the Surabaya City Industry and Trade Office (Disperindag), and the Surabaya Bulog Branch Head reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 27.

Dirmanto stated that this activity was carried out to follow up on information related to scarcity and rising prices for bapokting needs in the East Java region.

The East Java Police Food Task Force team in collaboration with the Surabaya City Industry and Trade Office targeted a number of markets and distributors as well as Bulog Warehouse.

Dirmanto also appealed to the public not to worry about rice stocks, especially in Surabaya and East Java, in general ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1445 Hijri.

"According to information from the Surabaya Bulog, there are still 130 thousand tons of rice stock and specifically for the Surabaya Branch Bulog warehouse, there are still 30 thousand tons," he said.

"There is no need to make panic purchases, buy enough, don't buy too much," he added.

The head of the Surabaya Bulog Branch, Sugeng Hardono, confirmed that there were 130 thousand tons of rice stocks in Bulog East Java. For this reason, he advised the public not to join in long queues just to get rice.

"The rice is there, we have provided it in markets, at kiosks and retail modern, we have also prepared it," he said.

Sugeng Hardono revealed that based on information from the Agriculture Service and market players, the current price of unhulled rice has dropped.

He is increasingly confident that the rice stock will be sufficient for residents in East Java, because it is estimated that in March 2024 it will be the harvest season tomorrow.

"So the calmer it is, the people don't need to panic," added Sugeng.

Sugeng also said that his party would also continue to carry out market operations by taking concrete steps to distribute rice so that it could be reached by the public.

"We will also carry out market operations, low-cost food movements with agencies in the regencies and cities, so if we haven't found them, we also come to the community right away, so take it easy," he said.