Suparjo Ramalan
IDXChannel – The Bulog Public Corporation has obtained a permit from the government to import 2 million tonnes of rice throughout 2023. The company is targeting five countries as importing partners.
The countries are Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan, and India. President Director of Bulog, Budi Waseso (Buwas) said the cooperation contracts with the five partner countries would be carried out in stages by considering domestic food supplies.
“For example, if the Head of National Food Agency (Bapanas) says we need 100.000 tons next month, we will bring 100.000 tons,” said Buwas in North Jakarta on Thursday (6/4/2023).
Until now, the cooperation contracts with the five countries are still being planned. However, Buwas has calculated that the shipping process from partner countries to Indonesia could take 10-15 days, depending on the weather.
"About 10 days. If it is from India, it could be 15 days, depending on the readiness of the country, right?" he said.
The head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, recently ensured that Bulog would not import two million tons of rice all at once, but in stages.
The implementation of the policy depends on food supplies and prices. Bapanas is the state institution that instructs Bulog to import rice.
Even though he gave the task, Arief guaranteed that the domestic procurement of Bulog rice was in accordance with the Government Purchase Price (HPP). Where, for dry harvested unhusked rice (GKP) for farmers it is IDR 5,000 per kilogram (kg).
Then, Milled Dry Grain (GKG) at the mill is Rp. 6,200 per kg, GKG at the Perum BULOG Warehouse is Rp. 6,300 per kg, rice at the Perum Bulog Warehouse is Rp. 9,950 per kg.
"So we guarantee that the farmers' rice would be bought at predetermined government purchase prices (HPP),” the Bapanas Head said.
"HPP is a safety net. When the prices are lower, Bulog will absorb local rice, that's a guarantee from the government to provide welfare to farmers," he continued. (WHY)
