The National Police's Food Task Force Ensures Food Availability In South Sulawesi

The Task Force team led by Kombes Edi Sudianto (two left) along with his staff and Bulog while inspecting the Bulog Modern Warehouse (GBM) of Panaikang Makassar, South Sulawesi, Thursday (29/2/2024). BETWEEN/HO-Documentation of the South Sulawesi Police.

The National Police Headquarters Food Task Force (Satgas) team visited the Panaikang Makassar Bulog Modern Warehouse (GBM) to ensure that rice stocks in Bulog and retail in the market are available to maintain price stabilization ahead of Ramadan.

"The checking of rice stocks in this warehouse and coordinating as well as giving directions to Perum Bulog Panaikang to maintain the stabilization of the price of the fasting month," said the Task Force Team led by Kombes Edi Sudianto as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, February 29.

Kombes Edi during the visit was accompanied by his staff, as well as Deputy Chairman of Perum Bulog Sulselbar along with Branch Manager of Perum Bulog Panaikang Makassar and his staff.

After confirming food stocks and receiving an explanation, the National Police Headquarters Food Task Force Team then left GBM Palaikang Makassar and shifted to monitoring retail at the Mitra Bulog rice warehouse in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi.

Previously, Perum Bulog for the South and West Sulawesi Regions (Sulselbar) guaranteed the availability of safe rice stocks ahead of Ramadan until Eid al-Fitr 1445 H in 2024.

"God willing, the stock will be quite safe, including in facing the month of Ramadan until the holiday. Bulog Sulsel rice stock is currently approximately 80 thousand tons," said Head of Perum Bulog for the South Sulawesi Region M Imron Rosidi in Makassar.

Regarding the absorption of dry unhulled rice in farmers, he said, so far there has been no absorption, because the conditions on the ground so far have not been harvested.

In addition, if Bulog absorbs farmers' rice, the price offered is relatively higher through the Government Purchase Price (HPP) limit which becomes the government's reference for buying grain or rice from farmers to increase Government Rice Reserves (CBP).

"Until now, Bulog Sulselbar has not been able to absorb grain or rice because there has been no harvest on a large scale and prices are far above the set HPP," he said.

The police are carrying out an assignment to distribute food aid from the government, namely the first phase of the CPB January-March 2024 to Beneficiary Families (KPM) as well as an effort to control the price of rice in the market which is creeping up.

Imron said that South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi are one of the food centers that produce rice and are always in surplus by producing up to three million tons a year with a need of two million tons per year.