Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo has promised to restore the functions of state-owned logistics comapnyPerum Bulog as a state agency in order to curb liberalization in the food sector.

Ganjar made the statement during a gathering with volunteers supporting him and running mate Mahfud MD in Wonosobo, Central Java, on Monday.

He said that the return of Bulog's original functions would achieve price stability from the producer to the market level.

"Bulog will be restored to its original function, buying produce directly from farmers. So, it cannot be liberalized and price stability will be maintained," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Ganjar said he remained committed to realizing food self-sufficiency in the country, albeit not through liberalization.

Bulog was created in 1967 as the State Logistics Agency, taking over from the State Logistics Command (Kolognas) which was established in 1966. Bulog’s main responsibility was to stabilize the supply and price of rice. The mandate was expanded in 1987 to also include other food commodities.

In 1997, the mandate was reduced to only rice and sugar and further reduced to only rice in 1998, following a letter of intent with the International Monetary Fund during the Asian monetary crisis.

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