Minister Darmin Explains Jokowi`s Order on Rice Import Debate
20 September 2018 22:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Economy Affairs Darmin Nasution said the government would immediately correct the data gap released by institutions on the needs and stocks of rice as ordered by President Joko `Jokowi` Widodo.
Darmin said the strategy was delivered to settle the polemic between the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) president director Budi Waseso and Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita in light of rice import.
“I am still looking for a chance to hold a meeting with Agriculture Minister, Trade Minister, and Bulog,” the minister said at the Presidential Office, Thursday, September 20.
Darmin explained the data on rice production and national needs owned by two institutions, namely the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and Agriculture Ministry. But unfortunately, the data did not synchronize so the government could not review the trend of rice needs in a certain period.
Read: Bulog: Rice Stock Sufficient until July 2019
The data issued by the Agriculture Ministry showed a surplus of rice production despite it is contrary to the condition in the society. “Every year, the rice production experience surplus of 11 million tons, but where did the rice go? BPS will check it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Trade Ministry issued the recommendation to import rice up to 1.8 million tons in three stages this year. The first and second import permit had been issued in February and May, each amounted to 500,000 tons of rice, while the last to release in July had expired.
However, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said the third permit to import rice was extended until September 2018 as requested by Bulog.
“We have issued a recommendation to import rice based on the coordination meeting with Coordinating Ministry of Economy Affairs. So it is up to Bulog to use it or not,” said Enggartiasto on Wednesday, September 19.
On the other hand, Bulog chief Budi Waseso claimed the current rice stock was sufficient thus the government did not need to import the commodity. Bulog, he said, had received an abundant supply of rice from the absorption of domestic production and the foreign procurement.
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