1,5 Million Ton Surplus, Ridwan Kamil Make Sure West Java Does Not Need Import Rice

Photo via Antara

Governor Ridwan Kamil ensured that West Java does not need imported rice. The problem is that every year there is a surplus of 1.5 million tons of rice.

"West Java (rice production) has a surplus, we have a surplus every year of 1.5 million tons," said Kang Emil, Ridwan Kamil's nickname in Cirebon, West Java, Wednesday, during a working visit at Pasar Pasar Baparan, Cirebon Regency.

According to him, the increase in rice prices in West Java is being searched, considering that the area is one of the national rice barns with a surplus of 1.5 million tons every year.

Kang Emil continued that with the increase in rice prices, his party would intervene in the market, either by way of market operations, or by intervening in distribution through subsidies of logistics vehicles.

He also emphasized that it will soon enter the harvest season, so that imported rice is no longer needed.

"West Java should not be imported (there is rice), because it has a surplus, if other regions go ahead," he said, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, January 25.

Kang Emil also asked regions in West Java not to bring imported rice, especially in Indramayu Regency which is a national rice barn. "Indramayu should also not bring imported rice," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Perum Bulog Branch, Indramayu Dandy Arianto, ensured that rice stocks in the area were safe until the next harvest season, so there was no need to bring in imported rice and farmers would not have to worry.

"We make sure the stock is sufficient to reach the main harvest at the end of February 2023," he said.

He said the need for rice in Indramayu Regency is less than 100 tons, considering that the area is a rice barn, so that many people store their own crops.

Dandy added that although the rice stock in Bulog Indramayu's warehouse was not like a few months ago which reached 30 thousand tons, his party would not bring in imported rice.

Thus, he hopes that farmers will not have to worry, because it will soon be before the main harvest, so that rice prices in the market are also safe without falling prices.

"The imported rice to Indramayu has just been discussed, the goods are not there, due to the discourse of canceling the remaining imports following the Ministry of Trade's import permit only until the end of January," he said.