Indonesia’s state-owned food logistics agency, Bulog, is strengthening its strategic preparations to counter a potential midyear drought linked to El Niño and ensure the stability of the national food supply. Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani recently outlined these plans during an address at Wonokromo Market in Surabaya.
Ramdhani emphasized Bulog’s close coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture to safeguard domestic food production levels. He explained that a key part of their joint solution involves the Ministry of Agriculture installing additional pumping stations and providing more agricultural machinery. This support is intended to prevent declines in production and potentially even boost output despite the challenging weather forecast.
Interestingly, Ramdhani pointed out that the timing of the anticipated El Niño event may not be entirely negative. He noted that its onset coincides with the peak rice harvest periods in several regions, offering a window for procurement before severe conditions take hold.
As part of a comprehensive strategy to secure national reserves against a prolonged dry season, Bulog has already acquired a significant portion of its targets. The agency has absorbed more than 35 percent of the government’s overall rice procurement goal, which stands at 4 million tons.
Regarding current inventories, Ramdhani announced that Indonesia’s rice stocks have reached 4.4 million tons. He declared this figure to be the highest level recorded in the country’s history, exceeding the previous peak of 4.2 million tons observed last year.
Looking ahead, Ramdhani conveyed optimism that these national rice stocks could further expand to approximately 5 million tons by late April or early May. This projected increase is directly linked to the ongoing rice harvests currently taking place across various parts of the archipelago, contributing to the replenishment of national food reserves.
Source: Original
