TIME.CO, Jakarta – The government has finally decided to adopt an import policy Rice up to 200 thousand tons by the end of 2022. The decision-making process is long because ministries and institutions have not suffered a single voice.
Until now, the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) insists that domestic rice production is still very sufficient to meet domestic needs. Perum Bulog was no less explicit in saying that the data from the Ministry of Agriculture did not match the facts on the ground.
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What is the chaotic history of rice data until the government finally takes official steps for the import?
The Ministry of Agriculture claims the rice surplus
Initially, the Ministry of Agriculture ensured that domestic rice production was in a secure condition until the end of the year. Director of Grains, Directorate General of Food Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Moh Ismail Wahab estimates that production for October-December 2022 will reach 10.24 million tonnes of dry milled wheat (GKG), or about 5- 6 million tons converted to rice.
This means that the rice surplus is estimated to reach 1.8 million tonnes this year. When added to the previous year’s surplus, the surplus reached 5.7 million tons of rice.
Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo is confident that domestic rice supplies are safe. “(Border of rice) Safe, please. How many tons do you want? How many do you want to buy, come on,” he said when he met Time at the Ministry of Agriculture, South Jakarta on Thursday, October 6, 2022.
Rice prices are rising
However, the Agriculture Ministry’s claim of a rice surplus raises questions price of rice and dry grain yields actually increased. The National Food Agency noted that the price of harvested unhulled dry rice, or GKP, increased by 15.7 percent and the price of average rice increased by 4.26 percent.
Commission IV DPR chairman Sudin also questioned why consumer prices could rise as the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) said there was a rice surplus of 6 million tons.
“That means the Commerce Act doesn’t apply. Supply And request do not specify. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, we have a surplus of 6 million tons, suddenly down from 10 tons. But on a consumer level, a 4% price increase?” Sudin said in a hearing (RDP) with Bapanas, Perum Bulog and Food Holding at the DPR RI Building, South Jakarta on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
Bulog did not find a surplus of rice in the field
In the same meeting, finally the Chief Conductor of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso alias Buwas opened his voice. He admitted that he had asked the Ministry of Agriculture for clarifications regarding the abundant harvest.
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