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Bulog criticized for slow absorption of harvest yields
State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno on Tuesday criticized State Logistics Agency (Bulog) offices for inefficient absorption of local farmersâ harvest yields, leading to unstable rice prices among both consumers and farmers
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tate-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno on Tuesday criticized State Logistics Agency (Bulog) offices for inefficient absorption of local farmers' harvest yields, leading to unstable rice prices among both consumers and farmers.
'I ask Bulog to keep trying to maintain stable rice prices, including by absorbing farmers' harvest yields more optimally,' she said.
The minister made the statements to journalists on the sidelines of her work visit to Banyumas regency in Central Java on Tuesday.
'We've heard that farmers in several areas in Central and East Java have entered their harvest time, but that Bulog has not yet been to those areas. I've checked and directly visited the areas. This is not proper,' said Rini.
She further said that since many areas in Central Java were entering their harvest time, it was hoped that Bulog could more proactively monitor the distribution of the harvest yields, as was its responsibility.
Without proper monitoring, Rini said, millions of farmers would fall victim to sharp fluctuations in rice prices and the commodity's available supplies.
'This is why we are visiting several areas to directly monitor the condition of paddy harvests there and we hope that Bulog can take concrete action to absorb the harvest yields as many farmers have complained that Bulog has not yet come to their areas,' said Rini.
Earlier, President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and his economic ministers claimed that market operations had been successful in bringing down rice prices.
The price of rice stabilized to around Rp 7,000 (5.3 US cents) or Rp 8,000 per kilogram in late March after skyrocketing to nearly Rp 12,000 per kilogram in February. Rice is now selling at Rp 9,000 to Rp 10,000 per kilogram. (ebf)(+++)
