The stock in Bulog (State Logistics Agency) of Indonesia willcontinue to be maintained above 1 million tonnes, Adi was quoted by AntaraNews Agency as saying on December 6, adding that the Indonesian President askedthe agency to increase the stock to reach close to 3 million tonnes.
According to Adi, this aims to ensure that under anycircumstances, including the El Nino phenomenon, the state has stocks that areready to be distributed to the community.
Bapanas recorded that as of December 5, 2023, rice stocks stored by Bulog stoodat 1.5 million tonnes. Furthermore, state-run food holding company ID FOOD ismanaging 2,260 tonnes of rice, while the Regional Provincial Government RiceStocks (CBPP) stood at 6,735 tonnes.
Adi noted that one of the efforts to strengthen the CBP is optimising domesticharvests. The Indonesian agriculture minister stated that the planting targetreached at least 1 million hectares, so in one month, more than 2.5 milliontonnes can be harvested.
The agency head explained that if the planting area can be increased to 1.5million or 2 million hectares, then it will not be necessary to import rice,as the needs can be met by domestic stocks.
Adi underlined that as the head of the National Food Agency, he has receivedorders from the Indonesian president to ensure the availability of rice stocksto Eastern Indonesia, as well as Central Indonesia. All must be available, hestressed./.