TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government officially added a 1.6 million tons quota of rice imports, amounting to 3.6 million tons of rice to be imported this year. The Indonesian government has previously authorized Bulog to import 2 million tons of rice. Out of those, 500,000 tons are on its way to the country.

The Director of Imports at the Trade Ministry Arif Sulistyo said that the additional rice import quota has been approved during the limited coordination meeting of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs on Feb. 5, 2024.

“There is an additional allocation for rice import amounting to 1.6 million tons,” Arif said on Tuesday.

According to Arif, the additional rice import quota required a change in the previously applied Neraca Komoditas (Commodity Balance). “For the additional 1.6 million tons, it’s currently in the process of adjusting the commodity balance. So, we have not issued an import approval for it,” he said.

Earlier, the Director of Bulog Bayu Krisnamurthi mentioned on Thursday, Feb. 15 that 500,000 tons of rice is underway in Indonesia and will be received prior to harvest season. The harvest season itself has been forecasted to be postponed to April-May.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Feb. 14 that the import decision was taken to ensure domestic rice requirements are fulfilled due to declining production caused by a two-month delay in harvest.

YOHANES MAHARSO | AMELIA RAHIMA

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