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Domestic food supply safe despite declining rice output, govt says
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Workers unload sacks of rice imported from Thailand from a cargo ship on June 22, 2023, at Malahayati Port in Krueng Raya, Aceh. (AFP/Chaideer Mahyuddin)
T
he government has allayed concerns about domestic food security amid declining crops in Asia and commodity export restrictions imposed by several countries.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said on Thursday that food prices in traditional markets were declining following recent increases, with rice being the only exception.
“I will keep asserting that rice needs constant attention, it is our staple food,” Jokowi said.
He revealed that rice stocks managed by the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) were currently close to 1.6 million tonnes, including the government rice reserves (CBP), and said that 400,000 tonnes were “on the way”.
National Food Agency (Bapanas) head Arief Prasetyo Adi told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that Bulog reserves currently sat at 1.54 million tonnes, while the additional incoming 400,000 tonnes were part of Bulog’s obligation to import 2 million tonnes in 2023.
Bulog stocks play an important role in controlling rice prices in the country through a psychological effect. CBP stocks are used to stabilize inflation through what is known as market operations, in which extra supply is injected into regions experiencing unusually high inflationary pressure.
Rice prices hit record highs on Thursday, with medium quality rice ranging from Rp 12,300 (8 US cents) to Rp 12,400 per kilogram.
