Bulog CEO states farmer paddy absorption reaches 2.4 million tonnes equivalent to rice

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Perum Bulog’s President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani stated that up to early mid-May 2026, the absorption of domestic farmers’ paddy has reached 2.4 million tonnes equivalent to rice to strengthen the government’s rice reserves (CBP). Rizal said this achievement is part of the national target of 4 million tonnes equivalent to rice in 2026, as assigned by the government to support food security and domestic supply stability. “And up to 6 May this year (2026), we have already reached more than 2.4 million tonnes (paddy absorption equivalent to rice). So it’s almost reaching around 60 percent of the total target of 4 million tonnes,” Rizal said in Jakarta on Wednesday. He emphasised this while conversing with several All-Indonesian Student Executive Boards (BEM SI) during a direct inspection of the actual condition of government rice reserve stocks managed at the Bulog Sunter Warehouse in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. Rizal conveyed that this success is supported by synergy between the central government, local governments, field agricultural extension workers (PPL) from the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as TNI/Polri apparatus directly involved in overseeing absorption in the field. Bulog also implements a policy of absorbing paddy and rice with certain quality standards, namely only harvests that have reached optimal age to maintain the quality of the resulting product. This approach ensures that the absorbed rice has good maturity levels, thus producing higher quality when processed and stored for a certain period. In addition, students are encouraged to play an active role as independent supervisors through educational activities and field visits to directly understand the national food logistics system. Bulog currently manages a widespread network of warehouses across Indonesia to store government rice reserves as part of the food distribution and stabilisation system. He mentioned that the total number of warehouses owned reaches 1,555 units with a storage capacity of around 3.7 million tonnes, so some additional needs are met through leasing external warehouses. To accommodate the increase in stocks, Bulog leases additional facilities with a capacity approaching 2 million tonnes to ensure all farmers’ paddy absorption results can be well absorbed. This step is also aimed at reaching areas that do not yet have adequate storage facilities, so rice reserve distribution can be more even and efficient. Overall, Rizal added, the national rice stocks managed by the state-owned food company currently reach around 5.23 million tonnes and are deemed sufficient to maintain food security until next year. Bulog affirms that all stored rice belongs to the government as national food reserves consisting of premium and medium rice for price stabilisation needs and public assistance.