The National Food Agency Targets Government Rice Reserves To Reach 1.2 Million Tons

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The National Food Agency (NFA) targets government rice reserves (CBP) to reach 1.2 million tons to maintain rice price availability and stability. "Currently, NFA through Bulog is intensively increasing the CBP managed by Bulog to 1.2 million tons to maintain the availability and stability of rice prices," said NFA Head Arief Prasetyo Adi in an official statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Friday, October 21. He said Bulog's CBP stock as of September 2022 was around 791 thousand tons, and an increase was needed to 1.2 million tons until December 2022. This was to meet the needs of the implementation of the Supply Availability and Price Stabilization (KPSH) program or market operations, anticipation of emergency response, and allocation for other urgent needs. "We must make this effort, because in the midst of the potential world food crisis, it is very important to ensure the availability and stability of rice as a strategic commodity. Therefore, synergy and joint work of all stakeholders are needed, starting from ministries/agencies, local governments, the National Police Food Task Force, associations and farmer groups, as well as state-owned enterprises, BUMD, and private annealing," said Arief. As a form of follow-up to securing CBP through increasing the absorption of grain/rice by Perum Bulog, NFA together with the South Sulawesi Provincial Government and the ranks of Regency/City Governments throughout South Sulawesi and related parties held a meeting to optimize the absorption of Gabah/Domestic Rice in South Sulawesi Province in Makassar. On that occasion, there was a signing of the Commitment for Rice Absorption by all Regencies/Cities, milling partners, and Bulog. After this meeting, Arief continued, Bulog will meet and coordinate with the Regency Government/City Government in the South Sulawesi region and milling partners to discuss price and absorption agreements. "Bulog please meet with partners to determine a reasonable price. Because when buying it, it must match the market price so that inflation does not occur," he said. Arief said South Sulawesi is a potential province as a source of grain/rice absorption to increase the CBP managed by Bulog. South Sulawesi's harvest potential in October 2022 is 264 thousand tons and in November 2022 183 thousand tons, of which this figure is among the highest at the National level. "In addition to the high harvest potential, we also appreciate the support of the Governor of South Sulawesi who has mobilized the entire Regency/City Government and asked rice milling entrepreneurs in the South Sulawesi region to prioritize meeting the needs of CBP stocks in Bulog's warehouse," he said.