Bulog North Sumatra increases grain absorption as harvest season begins

Perum Bulog’s North Sumatra Regional Office has begun increasing its absorption of rice paddy from farmers in its working area because some regions have entered the rice harvest period.

“Paddy absorption is increasing because a number of areas are starting to enter the harvest period this August,” said North Sumatra Perum Bulog Regional Leader Budi Cahyanto in Medan on Tuesday.

Budi said paddy absorption is being carried out in areas including Tebing Tinggi City and the regencies of Serdang Bedagai, Simalungun, and Asahan.

He said paddy absorption is increasing gradually. In the second week of August, average absorption reached around 400 tonnes per day, up from 200-300 tonnes per day in the first week of August.

“Going forward, absorption will continue because a number of areas are starting to enter the harvest period, including Deli Serdang, Batu Bara, Langkat, and North Tapanuli regencies,” he said.

Budi said the paddy absorbed will form part of the food reserve to fulfil various government assignments, including the Food Supply and Price Stabilisation Programme (SPHP), food assistance, and disaster response.

As the government’s operator in food management, Bulog is tasked with absorbing paddy directly from farmers in accordance with the government purchase price (HPP), namely Rp6,500 per kilogramme.

To optimise absorption, Bulog is also continuing to conduct outreach to strengthen cooperation with farmer group associations (gapoktan), local governments, and other related parties.

Bulog North Sumatra has recorded paddy absorption from farmers reaching 39,338 tonnes out of a target of approximately 62,718 tonnes of dry harvested paddy (GKP) to maintain food price stability in the region.