Rice production sharply down so far this year
At the HIPMI annual gathering, President Joko Widodo discussed rice supplies amid concerns over Indonesia’s lagging rice production, which the National Food Agency (Bapanas) projects at 18.64 million tonnes for the first half of 2024, down 2.47 million tonnes from last year. Bapanas head Arief Prasetyo Adi highlighted challenges due to the impending dry season. However, State Logistics Agency (Bulog) president Bayu Krisnamurthi assured that the government’s rice reserves, totaling 1.77 million tonnes, are sufficient for 2024.
President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo answers reporters’ questions about rice supplies at the annual gathering of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) in Jakarta on June 10, 2024. (JP/Deni Ghifari)
A lmost halfway into 2024, Indonesia’s rice production is far behind the output seen last year, the National Food Agency (Bapanas) has revealed, sparking concern over full-year output as the dry season begins.
Speaking in a hearing with House of Representatives Commission IV, which oversees agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food production, Bapanas head Arief Prasetyo Adi said the latest projection pointed to a mere 18.64 million tonnes of domestic supply through June, 2.47 million tonnes less than in last year’s first half.
“That has become our concern facing the coming months, given that we are entering the dry season,” Arief told lawmakers on Monday.
However, he also said that stocks of 12 strategic foodstuffs, including rice, were “safe and sufficient” to get the country through the year.
In the same hearing, State Logistics Agency (Bulog) president director Bayu Krisnamurthi explained that the government rice reserves (CBP) now amounted to 1.77 million tonnes, some 216,000 tonnes of which were “still on the way”.
“With current position, God willing, [the stocks] are enough for undertaking programs the government appointed to Bulog until the end of the year,” said Bayu.
Source Link : https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2024/06/11/rice-production-sharply-down-so-far-this-year.html
Recommended for you
