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November 20, 2024 | 01:22 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, has expressed his intention to cease rice imports as early as next year. This goal aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture's accelerated paddy field expansion program.
“Given the progress of the paddy field expansion program, and Pak President Prabowo Subianto's directive to prioritize domestic production, we aim to stop [importing rice]. Imports will be restricted to specialized rice varieties only,” Arief told journalists at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
Arief specified that specialized rice varieties, such as basmati and kao hom mali, which are imported from Vietnam and Thailand, would be exempt from the import ban. These varieties cater primarily to the hospitality industry, particularly hotels and restaurants, as they are favored by many tourists.
However, Arief emphasized that the current volume of rice imports is relatively small, amounting to only 20,000 tons. If the Ministry of Agriculture successfully increases agricultural land by 750,000 hectares and production by 2.5 million tons, the government could potentially eliminate the need for rice imports.
When asked about the paddy field expansion that may not yield immediate results, Arief explained that the government is implementing various strategies to optimize land use. These strategies include intensifying farming practices, providing subsidized fertilizers, and improving irrigation infrastructure. “We must support and drive domestic production,” he added.
Bapanas' primary role, Arief went on, is to assess the national rice balance, which informs the government's decision-making process regarding potential rice imports. Bapanas presents its assessment to a limited coordination meeting (Rakortas) involving relevant ministries and institutions to discuss potential rice supply shortages. The final decision to import or not rests with the limited meeting decisions.
Arief estimates that domestic rice production will reach 5 million tons in March and April of next year. During this period, Perum Bulog, the state-owned food logistics agency, will be responsible for absorbing domestically produced rice. To ensure optimal rice absorption, Arief highlighted the importance of adequate drying facilities.
As of the end of October 2024, Bulog's rice stock stood at 1.5 million tons. The agency has procured 2.9 million tons of rice through imports, out of a total target of 3.6 million tons for the year. This implies that Bulog will need to import an additional 700,000 tons of rice by the end of the year.
In contrast, domestic rice procurement has reached 1.08 million tons, comprising 696,000 tons under the Public Services Obligation (PSO) scheme and 387,000 tons through commercial channels.
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