Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Main Director of Perum Bulog, Budi Waseso, or familiarly known as Buwas, revealed that the government has given a new assignment to Perum Bulog to import 2 million tons of rice in 2024.
“2 million tons have been assigned for 2024,” said Buwas when met at the DPR RI Complex, Wednesday (8/11/2023).
Buwas explained that the additional rice imports of 2 million tons in 2024 were in line with the government’s extension of the food aid program in the form of rice until June 2024.
Apart from that, the postponement of the planting season and harvest season is also the reason why the government has allocated a rice import assignment of 2 million tons in 2024.
“There is more food aid, Mr President, which will last until June (2024). That means there is another 640 thousand tons, plus market operations for 3 months it could be 300 thousand, because it hasn’t been harvested yet. So, yes… it’s more than 900 thousand, right? Well, without “Our supply is running low,” he explained.
 Photo: Workers pack food supply and price stabilization (SPHP) rice at the Bulog warehouse at the Jakarta Banten Regional Office in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Tuesday (17/10/2023). SPHP Rice aims to reduce the price of rice on the market. (CNBC Indonesia/Faisal Rahman)Workers pack food supply and price stabilization (SPHP) rice at the Bulog warehouse at the Jakarta Banten Regional Office in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Tuesday (17/10/2023). SPHP Rice aims to reduce the price of rice on the market. (CNBC Indonesia/Faisal Rahman) |
Buwas emphasized that the quota of 2 million tons of imported rice in 2024 is just an assignment, so it does not have to be implemented immediately. He hopes that there will be supplies from domestic production, so that the import quota of 2 million tonnes does not need to be fully implemented.
“So, Mr. President allocated our imports. Allocated yes, not definitely. Allocated 2 million for imports next year,” he stressed.
On a separate occasion, Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi admitted that he had prepared a letter of assignment to import 2 million tons in 2024 to Perum Bulog. However, he still has not signed the assignment letter.
“It’s been prepared but I haven’t submitted it to Bulog yet. It hasn’t been signed yet (the assignment letter for 2 million tons in 2024),” said Arief.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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