2 days ago
31
March 17, 2025 | 05:07 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, stated that rice stored in Perum Bulog warehouses should be free of weevils. His remark came in response to the discovery of weevil-infested rice at a Bulog warehouse in Yogyakarta.
"That shouldn't have happened. We should have been preventive. But we need to follow up on this," said Arief in an official statement on Monday, March 17, 2025. According to Arief, the government has now followed up on the discovery by fumigating or controlling the pests.
Through this incident, Arief sees it as a correction due to the lack of intensity in checking the rice stock in the Bulog warehouse. However, with or without weevil-infested rice, Arief said that the management of Perum Bulog needs to continue monitoring the condition of the rice reserves.
"The Warehouse Manager, Branch Leader, and Regional Leader must ensure the rice's quality," he said, outlining those responsible for addressing the weevil-infested rice issue.
He also stressed the importance of regularly inspecting the 1.9 million tons of rice stored in Bulog’s warehouse.
When he was the Head of the Bulog Supervisory Board, Arief said he regularly visited the warehouses periodically. If there was unsuitable rice found, he would take immediate action. "It's really simple. Just fumigate it, done," said Arief to Tempo, Thursday, March 13, 2025.
The discovery of weevil-infested rice was revealed by the Chair of the House of Representatives Commission IV, Siti Hediati Hariyadi or Titiek Soeharto.
She found remaining imported rice from last year stored in the Perum Bulog warehouse in Yogyakarta was no longer fit for consumption. During her visit to Yogyakarta, she and her team inspected the Bulog warehouse.
"There, we found a lot of remaining imported rice in the Bulog warehouse that was infested with weevils," said Titiek.
She asked the ministry to manage the rice that was no longer fit for sale.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman, the discovery of rice unfit for consumption not only occurred in Yogyakarta.
He admitted to receiving a report from Bulog revealing that there were 100,000 to 300,000 tons out of the total 1.9 million tons of imported rice stock in Indonesia that was unfit for consumption. Meanwhile, in Yogyakarta, he said there were 10 tons of unfit rice.
"This is already on the list, including in Yogyakarta, but we asked if it could be expedited in Yogyakarta, Ma'am. I apologize, Ma'am," said Amran.
Han Revanda contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor’s Choice: Agriculture Minister Assures 300,000 Tons of Weevil-infested Imported Rice Won't Be Distributed to Public
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
BPS: Dates Imports Reach 16.47 Thousand Tons Ahead of Eid Al-Fitr
53 menit lalu
In February 2025, Indonesia's dates imports reached 16.47 thousand tons, an increase compared to last year.
Trump Threatens 200% Tariffs on European Union Alcohol
3 hari lalu
Trump has threatened to impose a 200 percent tariff on wine, champagne, and other alcoholic beverages imported from the European Union.
Industrial Salt Import Ban Forces Factories to Close, Workers Laid Off
3 hari lalu
Factories could no longer receive raw salt supplies after the government halted industrial salt imports.
Indonesia Aims for Rice Self-Sufficiency, Targeting 5 Million-Ton Surplus
4 hari lalu
The Indonesian government has set an ambitious goal to cease rice imports in a bid to reach national self-sufficiency.
Agriculture Minister Assures 300,000 Tons of Weevil-infested Imported Rice Won't Be Distributed to Public
5 hari lalu
Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman assured that unfit-for-consumption rice would not be distributed to the public.
Titiek Soeharto Exposes Infested Imported Rice in Bulog Warehouse: "Unfit for Consumption"
5 hari lalu
Titiek Soeharto has raised concerns over last year's imported rice stockpiled in a Bulog warehouse in Yogyakarta.
Tom Lembong Questions Why He's the Sole Defendant in Sugar Import Scandal
6 hari lalu
Tom Lembong questions why he is the only defendant and trade minister being charged in the alleged corruption case of sugar importation.
The Oil Imports Corruption Opera
6 hari lalu
There is still much that is strange following the revelations about the alleged corruption involving Pertamina oil imports.
Canada PM Trudeau Dismisses Trump's Tariffs as 'Very Dumb'
11 hari lalu
Justin Trudeau considers the import tariffs imposed by Trump on Canada to be very dumb and Canada will retaliate.
Agriculture Minister: No Grounds to Raise Prices, All Food Supplies Secure
13 hari lalu
Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman assures there is ample food supply for the next four months.
