The government finally imported rice amid differences in national-reserve data. At the consumer level, rice prices have also increased.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN
Rice buying and selling activities at the Kebayoran Lama Market, South Jakarta, Monday (5/12/2022).
The decision to import rice was taken amid differences in data between the Agriculture Ministry and the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and the National Food Agency (BPN). The Agriculture Ministry believed that rice stocks were sufficient. The stock in mills in 24 provinces totals 610,632 tonnes, with a price range of Rp 9,359 (US$0.60) to Rp 11,700 per kilogram.
This price does not meet the standard agreed between Bulog and BPN, namely a maximum of Rp 10,200 on the grounds of preventing inflation. According to data from the Statistics Indonesia (BPS), rice has been a source of inflation in the last five months. Imports are intended to increase the government's rice reserves and discourage rice speculators from raising prices.
This is not the first time data discrepancies have occurred. During the rule of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, the government conducted a special survey on national rice production. In October 2018, BPS presented rice-production data that was different from that of the Agriculture Ministry.
We agree that rice-production data must be accurate considering that Indonesia's population has reached 280 million people, and continues to increase by more than 4 million people every year. Digital technologies, such as blockchain and satellite imagery, can improve data accuracy. We are also experiencing climate change, which has greatly affected agricultural production. Also, unexpected changes, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have increased the vulnerability of food security.
Rice imports are a short-term solution. Feeding more than 280 million people requires comprehensive food strategies and policies. We can no longer depend on rice as a source of carbohydrates. Paddy fields are increasingly limited and productivity gains are slowing down. Environmentally, rice fields are also wasteful of water.
Our strategy needs to change to building food security and balanced nutrition. Our source of carbohydrates is not just rice. Indonesia has cassava, sweet potatoes, sago, taro, porang and many more. We need to build an ecosystem for food production, processing and distribution from the central to the regional level.
Therefore, technology must be available to increase production and local-food processing to the regency level, from the availability of production facilities, distribution systems and funding to counseling. Sporadically, the community has, for example, produced noodles from a mixture of several flours, including cassava mocaf.
No less important is people's access to food. The key is in people's purchasing power and knowledge through the provision of quality employment and education.
We want, before the working period of the current government ends, the birth of a balanced and dynamic strategy, policy and program for food security and nutrition. We also ask the future presidential candidates for their vision and mission regarding quality food for the people.
