The Government Assigns Bulog To Absorb 2.4 Million Tons Of Rice Farmers, Buwas: Not Final

President Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Public Company of the Logistics Affairs Agency (Perum Bulog) said the target of absorbing 2.4 million tons of domestic rice per year assigned by the government was not final.

Bulog's President Director, Budi Waseso, acknowledged that the 2.4 million tonne absorption target was much higher than the previous rice absorption which was in the range of 1 million to 1.5 million tons per year.

Even so, Buwas, Budi Waseso's nickname, explained that there had been no decision regarding the target.

He emphasized that this assignment took effect after the National Food Agency (Bapanas) issued a decree.

"So this is for the government's rice reserves (CBP). This has not yet become a final decision," said Buwas during a working meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture and Commission IV of the DPR RI, written Tuesday, January 17.

Buwas said, although there is a possibility that the absorption target will be increased, the rice managed by Bulog is guaranteed to be of high quality.

This is regulated in the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture (Permentan) Number 38 of 2018 concerning Management of Government Rice Reserves.

In this regulation, continued Buwas, government rice reserves can be released after exceeding the shelf time limit of at least four months can be sold below the price or less than the purchase price.

Where, Bulog will release the price of medium rice in the market by Rp. 8,000 per kilogram (kg) or below the price of Rp. 8,300 per kg.

"This means that what we used to procure for is Rp. 8,300, as soon as we stop the four months, we will release it at a price of Rp. 8,000 or below the price of Rp. 8,300, later the difference will be replaced by the government. If this can run, of course we have confidence that there will no longer be quality-degrading rice," he said.