Kupastuntas.co, Bandar Lampung - The Lampung Public Logistics Agency (Perum Bulog) currently has 25,500 tons of remaining rice reserves. The reserves are claimed to be able to meet the needs until December 2023.

The remaining 25,500 tons of rice reserves are now stored in 13 warehouse complexes belonging to Perum Bulog Lampung.

"The rice stocks are stored in 13 Bulog warehouses. Each district/city has deposited 100 tons in these warehouses. The stock of 25,500 tons of rice can meet demand until the end of December 2023," said Head of Perum Bulog Lampung, Etik Yulianti, when checking rice stock at the Bulog Warehouse on Jalan Soekarno Hatta Bandar Lampung, Tuesday (11/7).

Etik said that for rice that is issued from Bulog warehouses every day it is adjusted according to needs. "Like yesterday, there was a rice food assistance program that could reach 8,300 tons per month," he said.

He revealed, if later there is the program again for the next 3 months namely August, September and October, then his party is ready to issue around 24,000 tons of rice again.

Etik explained, from January to July 2023, Bulog Lampung had distributed 15,500 tons of rice on the market. The distribution of rice is in the context of supporting the Stabilization of Food Supply and Prices (SPHP) program to maintain food price stability, especially rice in the market.

He explained that Bulog Lampung is targeted to be able to distribute as many as 36,000 tons of rice in one year through the SPHP program.

"This means that around 45 percent of the target has been achieved. And indeed the selling price of rice on the market compared to the price of rice for the SPHP program is very far. Because the price of rice on the market is currently the cheapest selling price is Rp. 10,500 to Rp. 11,000 per kilogram. Meanwhile, the price of rice medium from the government, both at our partners and Indomaret, is sold at IDR 9,400 per kilogram,” he explained.

According to him, the price is quite affordable for the community when compared to prices in the market with the same quality.

"Bulog itself in the process of distributing SPHP rice has collaborated with 577 partners spread across Lampung Province," said Etik.

Meanwhile, the Lampung Provincial Government will only carry out market operations if the price of basic commodities rises 15 percent above the highest retail price (HET).

Assistant II for Economics and Development for the Lampung Provincial Government, Kusnardi, said that the price of rice is currently stable even though it is above the HET. His party continues to strive so that the price of basic necessities, especially rice, can go down.

"Meanwhile, for the poor, the SPHP program will still be rolled out through Bulog," said Kusnardi.

The Lampung Province Food Crops and Horticulture Food Security Service (KPTPH) noted that rice production in Lampung in 2022 reached 2,656,875 tons.

This figure has increased by 6.9 percent when compared to total production in the previous year. Where in 2021 the total rice production in Lampung reached 2,485,453 tons.

The planted area in 2022 will reach 616,474 hectares, experiencing a decrease of 6.93 percent, where in 2021 it will be 662,391 hectares. As for the harvested area in 2022, namely 515,938 hectares, an increase of 5.39 percent compared to 2021 which was 489,573 hectares.

"In 2022, the total availability of rice in Lampung is 2,195,123 tons, while for household needs it is 764,366 tons, then external household needs are 87,543 tons," he said recently.

Kusnardi revealed that Lampung Province is still helping rice needs outside Lampung Province, such as Jakarta, Banten, Kalimantan, Sulawesi to Bangka Belitung.

"We are still sending rice and this is in almost all provinces. But what is clear is that we are sending almost all of Sumatra except Aceh. Then what we are still sending is to Jakarta, Banten, Kalimantan, Sulawesi," said Kusnardi.

He explained, currently the printing of new rice fields has indeed begun to decline. This is because many rice fields are used as residential areas.

"It is actually possible to create new rice fields and we are working on this in East Lampung Regency because there is already a Marga Tiga dam and new irrigation so there can be more irrigation channels," he said. (*)

This news has been published in the Kupas Tuntas daily newspaper edition of Wednesday 12 July 2023 with the title "Bulog Lampung Rice Reserves Remaining 25,500 Tons"