Liputan6.com, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called for an increase in the government’s rice reserves (CBP) for 2024 by 3 to 3.8 million tons. In addition to the intake of local grains, inventory fulfillment will also be done through a rice import program.

To accomplish this mission, Perum Bulog Chief Director Bayu Krisnamurthi visits India to explore rice import cooperation.

“Now the managing director is going to India. That is why he is exploring the possibility of cooperation with India,” said Tomi Wijaya, Public Relations and Institutional Manager of Perum Bulog, in his office in Jakarta, Friday (December 15, 2023).

Tomi said Bulog is currently still on a mission to complete the remaining 500,000 tons of imports out of the total 1.5 million tons allocated by President Jokowi. It is hoped the deal will be completed by the end of this year.

“Our hopes are as high as possible. If India can fulfill the remaining 500,000 tonnes import contract, why not. Even though Thailand and Vietnam are still producing,” he explained.

Already reached 500,000 tons

According to Perum Bulog, of the 1 million tons of contracted rice imports, around 500,000 tons reached Indonesia. While the remaining half is on the way.