President Director Of Bulog Budi Waseso: We Have Not Imported Rice For Four Years In A Row, Domestic Stocks Are Still Safe

Bulog President Director Budi Waseso. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The President Director of Perum Bulog, Budi Waseso, has confirmed that he will not import rice until the end of this year. According to him, under his leadership, Bulog has stopped importing for four consecutive years.

Moreover, said Budi, the government's rice reserves (CBP) can be met from within the country. Currently, the amount of rice stock stored in Bulog warehouses throughout Indonesia is recorded at approximately 1 million tons. Budi emphasized that this is a safe limit according to the government's assignment, which is 1 to 1.5 million tons.

"Four years in a row we have not imported rice. My prediction with the directors is that we will not import until the end of this year," he said at a press conference at the Bulog Headquarters, Tuesday, May 10.

The man who is familiarly called Buwas also said that because it was still in the harvest period, the rice stock figure would still continue to increase. Because BULOG is still absorbing farmers' crops.

"For the main commodity that we control, namely rice, the quantity is very safe, there are 1 million tons, plus currently Bulog is still procuring unhulled rice for farmers throughout Indonesia and so far we have absorbed as much as 256 thousand tons. So this rice stock will continue to grow ," he said.

On the same occasion, Buwas also ensured that the supply and prices of food such as frozen meat, sugar and other commodities remained stable after the 2022 Eid holiday. Bulog has also issued instructions to all levels to prepare stocks of food commodities which are Bulog's responsibility so that they are always available to the public after the holidays. this Eid.

"Bulog ensures that the food needs currently stored in our warehouses throughout Indonesia are always available to the public and we will use all existing instruments to ensure the availability of the food," he said.