Bulog Receives 2 Percent Interest Subsidy to Pursue Absorption of 4 Million Tons of Rice

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Perum Bulog’s President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani stated that his company has obtained a 2 percent interest subsidy to strengthen financing capacity in pursuing the target of absorbing 4 million tons of rice equivalent in line with government policy. Rizal said the policy is part of the government’s support to ensure lighter financing availability for Bulog in carrying out the agricultural produce absorption assignment. “In accordance with the policy from President Prabowo Subianto through Minister Secretary of State Prasetyo Hadi, Bulog is given a 2 percent interest subsidy from Himbara banks,” Rizal said after the Meeting to Accelerate the Realisation of Funding for Rice Equivalent Paddy Absorption at Bulog’s Jakarta office on Monday. The interest subsidy comes from financing facilities of Himbara banks, where the total interest of 4 percent is split between the government and Bulog at 2 percent each. According to him, the decision to provide the interest subsidy has received direct approval from Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, thus providing certainty of financial support for Bulog going forward. “We have also met with the Finance Minister, and the Finance Minister has given the green light that Bulog is given a 2 percent interest subsidy,” he explained. He hopes that with the interest subsidy, it can reduce the burden of operational costs, thereby increasing efficiency in carrying out the function of national food absorption and distribution. He mentioned that the budget allocation for food commodity absorption, covering rice equivalent paddy, soybeans, and feed corn, reaches Rp68.6 trillion. The budget is focused on supporting the absorption target of 4 million tons of rice equivalent as mandated by the presidential instruction to strengthen national food reserves. Furthermore, Rizal stated that until 13 April 2026, Bulog’s rice absorption has reached about 48.7 percent or 1.9 million tons of rice equivalent from the government-set target. Meanwhile, Bulog’s rice stock in the same period was recorded at 4.727 million tons, indicating a significant increase in strengthening national food reserves. Bulog projects that within the next one to ten days, the government rice reserve stock (CBP) can break through the 5 million ton mark along with the ongoing acceleration of absorption.