Jakarta, IO – Head of National Food Agency (Bappanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said state logistics agency Bulog director Budi Waseso has obtained the permit to import 2 million tons of rice. However, he emphasized it would not arrive all at once given that the country is in the middle of peak harvest season, reported Detik, Thursday (6/4).
Arief added that currently Bulog still has the duty to purchase rice from domestic farmers. The import is only a measure to anticipate supply shortage and would not affect price at the farmer level.
Waseso further explained that after the rice import permits were issued, Bulog will conduct assessments to determine whether it would import from Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan or India. It will ask each country how much rice they can provide.
Buwas said imported rice is intended to meet domestic needs. For example, if there is a decrease in production, the government will have sufficient stock to conduct market operation and stabilize the price.
“If there is disruption in production, we must be able to make up for the shortfall. This is why we have to import,” he said.
Waseso said the next step would be to wait for technical recommendations from the Agriculture Ministry and Trade Ministry. (rr)