Bulog: Imported Rice Arrives This Month
The government has realized rice imports to cope with the increasingly critical availability of rice nationwide toward year-end.
Workers carry rice from the warehouse to the buyer's vehicle at the Cipinang Rice Main Market, East Jakarta, Friday (02/11/2022). The supply of rice at the Cipinang Rice Main Market has decreased. The government through Perum Bulog has imported rice which is targeted to arrive this month.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — In addition to addressing the dwindling national rice stock, the imports are expected to keep prices at the consumer level under check, according to the State Logistics Agency (Bulog). The policy to ship in foreign rice is also believed to be able to deter price speculations and rice hoardings.
“These imports will put the brake on speculations. It means, [the prices of rice] will remain to trickle up, or in other term, increase at a decreasing rate, until February,” former Bulog deputy Sapuan Gafar said when contacted on Sunday (4/12/2022). “If the arriving imported rice is confirmed in terms of quantity and time, market operation would need to be expanded," said former secretary to the state agriculture ministry from 1993-1999.