A researcher at the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia,\nEliza Mardian, has said that the national rice surplus needs to be\naccompanied by more equitable distribution so that the abundant supply\ncan be accessed by the public at affordable prices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithin a complete food security framework, the indicator is not only\navailability. Access, affordability and stability are also important,\u201d\nEliza said when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
Based on the Ministry of Agriculture\u2019s food balance projection, rice\nproduction in 2026 is estimated to reach 34.77 million tonnes, while\nnational demand stands at 31.10 million tonnes, leaving a surplus of\naround 3.67 million tonnes.<\/p>\n
Perum Bulog recorded that the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) stock\nunder its management reached 5.25 million tonnes as of 9 August 2026.\nThe government is also targeting rice exports to Malaysia with an\ninitial shipment of 1,000 tonnes.<\/p>\n
According to Eliza, an aggregate production surplus does not\nautomatically mean that all Indonesians have adequate access to rice at\naffordable prices.<\/p>\n
She said the main problems still lie in the inter-island distribution\nchain, high logistics costs, limited storage facilities in the regions,\nand limited market structures in remote areas.<\/p>\n
Eliza assessed that the government needs to strengthen distribution\ninfrastructure systematically through the addition of storage facilities\nin remote areas, more routine and measurable market operations, and\nimproved inter-island connectivity to reduce transport costs.<\/p>\n
According to her, rice exports still provide benefits in the form of\nadditional foreign exchange and an improved trade balance, but they\nshould be positioned as a secondary step once access and price stability\nacross all domestic regions have been secured.<\/p>\n
\u201cOpening export opportunities, even in small volumes as a market\ntest, should be positioned as a secondary step after access and price\nstability indicators in all domestic regions are monitored as safe,\u201d she\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She explained that the foreign exchange impact of the initial export\nplan of 1,000 tonnes to Malaysia is relatively small compared with\nIndonesia\u2019s total non-oil and gas exports.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, distribution disruptions, she continued, have the\npotential to directly affect communities in geographically hard-to-reach\nareas.<\/p>\n
Eliza assessed that the production surplus will be more meaningful if\nthe increase in rice availability at the national level is followed by\naffordable prices and stable supply to small islands and inland\nareas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should prioritise domestic distribution before expanding\nexports,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Distribution problems were previously raised by a student from Alor\nRegency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Adriano Padama, who said that rice\nprices in inland areas can reach Rp25,000 to Rp30,000 per kilogram when\ndistribution is disrupted.<\/p>\n
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman subsequently visited Alor\nand asked Perum Bulog to ensure stock availability and conduct market\noperations if needed so that people can obtain rice at affordable\nprices.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the government continues to intervene in supply and\ndistribution through the Food Supply and Price Stabilisation (SPHP)\nprogramme.<\/p>\n
The National Food Agency (Bapanas) recorded that SPHP rice\ndistribution from March to 8 August 2026 reached 610,300 tonnes, or\n73.71 percent of the target of 828,000 tonnes.<\/p>\n
Bapanas is also prioritising traditional markets as the main\ndistribution points for SPHP rice to strengthen supply availability\nwhile maintaining rice price stability at the consumer level.<\/p>\n
In addition to SPHP, Bapanas has tasked Perum Bulog with distributing\n997,200 tonnes of rice food assistance to 33,244,408 recipients for the\nJuly-September 2026 allocation.<\/p>\n
Each recipient receives 10 kilograms of rice per month for three\nmonths, or a total of 30 kilograms, which can be distributed at\nonce.<\/p>\n
Regarding Alor Regency, Bapanas together with Perum Bulog began\ndistributing food assistance on 8 August 2026 to 37,338 recipients for\nthe July-September allocation, with each recipient receiving a total of\n30 kilograms of rice.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/economist-says-rice-surplus-must-be-followed-by-equitable-distribution-1787316900", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }