Jakarta –
Perum Bulog has proposed rice allowances to the TNI/Polri as well as the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) to return to using Bulog rice. According to the managing director of Perum Bulog, the proposal is still being discussed by the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu).
“Later it’s still a journey. Now it’s still being evaluated, calculated by the Ministry of Finance,” said the Main Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso (Buwas) when met at the Cempaka Putih Transmart, Wednesday (15/3/2023).
As for the completion target itself, his party will still see how the results of this year’s main harvest will be. From there, it will be seen first whether the availability of rice can meet the needs of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN), TNI and Polri.
“We’ll look at the discussion on the results of this big harvest, we’re out of 10 MRMP (Modern Rice Milling Plants) only 7. So let’s see what the capabilities of the 7 are. It means how much we can produce, the drawback is other private MRMPs. Later, what amount can each month to distribute the needs of the ASN TNI,” he explained.
Buwas hopes that the proposal can be realized. Thus, the farmers’ rice will be absorbed by Bulog and will automatically be distributed to ASN, TNI and Polri.
This is because Bulog is no longer distributing rice to target communities with government subsidies which absorb around 2.6 million tonnes per year.
“Raskin used to be a government program, once it was abolished we lost the ability to distribute it. That means we lost the market of 2.6 million tonnes per year. Now we don’t really expect that, so we exchange it by distributing it for the benefit of the TNI, Polri and ASN. The need is more than 2.6 million,” said Buwas.
As additional information, previously this proposal was disclosed by Buwas during a sudden inspection of the Cipinang Rice Main Market (PIBC), Friday (3/2/2023).
“We are already producing our own rice. The problem is we take it, offtaker grain to farmers as much as possible. If there is no downstream problem, right?,” he said, quoted from CNBC.
“So we can no longer ask for Rastra because it has been the President’s decision that Rastra will no longer exist. How about rice at Bulog? We will return it to the interests of the TNI, Polri and ASN,” he continued.
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