Bulog prepares additional premium rice supply for modern retail
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Perum Badan Urusan Logistik (Bulog) is preparing additional supplies of premium rice to strengthen the availability of the commodity within modern retail networks throughout Indonesia.
“Regarding Bulog’s rice, I can report that for premium rice, we distribute approximately 600 tonnes per day. This is what we supply to all retailers across the country,” said the President Director of Perum Bulog, Ahmad Rizal Ramadhani, after accompanying the Chairperson of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Titiek Soeharto, to monitor rice availability and prices at the Cipinang Rice Wholesale Market (PIBC), East Jakarta, on Friday.
This effort follows monitoring findings which showed that while rice availability in wholesale markets is substantial, the supply of rice in several modern retail outlets still needs to be strengthened.
According to Rizal, Bulog cannot work alone in meeting the demand for premium rice across all trading networks. Therefore, the agency is inviting milling businesses and rice entrepreneurs in various regions to participate in increasing supplies to modern retail.
“Our hope is to see a tenfold increase from entrepreneurs in each respective region,” he said.
He noted that the national demand for premium rice is largely met by the private sector. Bulog itself provides approximately 507 to 600 tonnes of premium rice per day, while about 90 per cent of the remaining national demand is supported by private enterprises.
“We also had the Chairperson of Perpadi (Indonesian Rice Traders Association) here, Mr Tarto, who is helping to communicate with Perpadi members nationwide to support the distribution of premium rice in modern retailers,” Rizal explained.
In addition to premium rice, Bulog continues to distribute SPHP rice to maintain the stability of the supply and price of medium-grade rice.
Rizal stated that distribution must be accelerated so that available stocks can reach retailers and outlets even in rural areas.
He ensured that the absorption of paddy from farmers continues as normal, even as Indonesia enters the lean season, noting that the company’s absorption has reached approximately 4 million tonnes.
Bulog has achieved 100 per cent of its absorption target of approximately 4 million tonnes as of the end of September 2026. “As of the end of September, specifically on the 27th and 28th, our absorption achievement reached 100 per cent, totaling 4 million tonnes,” said Rizal.
“Bulog continues to conduct absorption as usual. The purpose is to ensure that the harvests of the community or farmers are absorbed and purchased by Bulog,” Rizal added.
In addition to maintaining national rice availability, absorbing farmers’ harvests is also part of the effort to maintain price stability at the producer level.
Rizal stated that Bulog continues to purchase paddy from farmers at a price of Rp6,500 per kilogram, in accordance with government policy.
“There is no reduction whatsoever. It remains normal as usual. The goal is nothing other than to ensure that farmers truly benefit from the price of Rp6,500,” he said.
This policy also serves as an effort to maintain the sustainability of national rice production and stocks.
On the other hand, Bulog currently holds approximately 4.8 million tonnes of rice in its warehouses, which can be used to meet public needs and support government programmes.