The government plans to import 1 million tons of rice through state-owned Perum Bulog this year. This rice import is to be carried out to maintain rice stock reserves.
By
Kompas Editor
·3 minutes read
The government plans to import 1 million tons of rice through state-owned Perum Bulog this year. This rice import is to be carried out to maintain rice stock reserves.
This import plan shocked many sides because it was announced in the middle of the grand harvest. There have been no signs of problems related to rice stock. There is no urgency to import rice.
Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) also do not show that we have to import or rush to import because the January-April production this year is better than the production in the same period last year. Production in January-April this year was 23.78 million tons of milled dry unhusked rice. At the same time last year, the figure was 19.99 million tons.
News about the rice import plan has been met with negative responses from various groups. Farmers are upset because the import plan will affect the price of rice. Even without imports, looking at the figures from BPS, rice prices are expected to continue to fall.
The global report on rice production in Indonesia states that it will increase because the area for rice cultivation in this planting season is wider due to the La Nina phenomenon.
We’ve became increasingly curious about the government\'s plan because at the end of last year when there was an estimated surplus of 2.5 million-8.5 million tons of rice. The global report on rice production in Indonesia states that it will increase because the area for rice cultivation in this planting season is wider due to the La Nina phenomenon. Imports of special rice are also expected to fall.
The public will continue to question this plan also because of import problems in the past. The import of rice is often ridden with a number of (personal) interests, one of which is rent-seeking. The import of food products is indeed the easiest to use for both economic and political interests.
Rice imports are often classified as an easy way to get fresh funds. When imports are not carried out, transactions between interested parties may have taken place. In the midst of various corruption cases that have recently come to light, rice imports should be postponed because of the potential wrongdoing.
Rice imports will always spark discussion. The government has to make many improvements, starting with data on rice production, rice consumption, to rice stocks, so that all indicators are clear.
The government should withdraw the rice import plan because various facts show that the national food condition is not problematic or at least there are no signs of problems. Agencies in charge of production, trade and weather information need to be listened to first to ensure future stock.
If one day it is necessary to import rice, all parties will certainly provide supporting facts. The public will be open if the reasons for import are reasonable and appropriate, such as the need for stocks and the right import time.
(This article was translated byKurniawan Siswoko).