Jokowi Wants Indonesia To Export Rice, Bulog: Actually Has Opportunity, But...

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesia is known as the second largest rice producer in the world after China. Moreover, Indonesia has succeeded in achieving self-sufficiency in rice for three years since 2019.

This success prompted President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to want Indonesia to export rice to help the food crisis. Then, does Indonesia have the opportunity to export rice?

Head of the Commodity Procurement Division of Perum Bulog, Budi Cahyanto, said that actually Indonesia had a great opportunity to export rice. Moreover, Indonesia is also listed as the second largest rice producing country in the world.

However, Budi continued, the domestic demand for rice is also large. Because, the highest carbohydrate consumption in Indonesia is rice.

"We actually have the opportunity to export. Don't forget that Indonesia is actually the second largest producer of rice in the world. It's just that our consumption is high," he said in a virtual discussion, Friday, August 19.

Budi said that if Indonesia later exports, the rice chosen is the type that only exists in Indonesia. While the export destination countries are Saudi Arabia or Malaysia.

"We will orientate the rice exports that we will do specifically in Indonesia. For example, Pandan Wangi, Rojolele and Mentik Wangi or mentik rice, which may not exist in the world. export to countries that really need it," he said.

Bulog's hopes are in line with the wishes of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Previously, Jokowi expressed his desire for Indonesia to export rice to help the food crisis facing the world today. This desire departs from Indonesia, which has succeeded in being self-sufficient in rice since 2019.

This was conveyed by President Joko Widodo at the opening of the 2022 National Coordination Meeting for Inflation Control, broadcast from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube.

"We received a certificate of appreciation from the International Rice Research Institute for our food security system and rice self-sufficiency which we must maintain and improve. So that we will not only be self-sufficient in rice, but later we can export rice to help overcome food shortages in several countries," he said, Thursday. , August 18th.