VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The rice consumption of the Indonesian people per capita annually is still quite high compared to several ASEAN member countries. According to data from the World Food and Agriculture Organization Economic Cooperation and Development, in 2018, Indonesia's annual rice consumption per capita reached 135 kilograms, higher than the Philippines (115 kg), Thailand (99 kg), and Malaysia (81 kg). Therefore, rice has always been a top priority in Indonesian government policies, especially related to trade and agriculture. In 2020, rice consumption was still recorded at above 90 kilograms per person annually. The high need for this staple food requires the Indonesian government to pay special attention to its availability.

To guarantee the stock in 2021, the government will import 1 million tons of rice, through the state-owned General Logistics Company -Bulog. Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartarto at the Ministry of Trade's Working Meeting last Thursday (4/3) said that maintaining the availability of rice in the country is an important thing to do so that prices can remain under control.

The government will implement two policies for the provision of domestic rice, following the rice social assistance program during the pandemic and enactment of the Regulation on Restricting Community Activities. First, the government will import 500,000 tons of rice for the Rice Reserve and another 500,000 tons according to Bulog's needs. Second, implementing the absorption of unhulled rice by Bulog with a target equal to 900,000 tons of rice during the main harvest in March-May 2021, and 500,000 tons in June-September 2021.

To reduce rice consumption, especially imported rice, the Ministry of Agriculture is targeting the national level of rice consumption to fall by 7 percent to 85 kilograms per capita in a year by 2024. With a population of 270 million people the decrease in rice consumption is equivalent to 1.77 million tons. To reduce rice consumption, food diversification is the right choice. Because it can anticipate crises, provide alternative food, drive the economy and create healthy human resources. Currently, every province in Indonesia is focused on producing local carbohydrate sources other than rice. There are at least six food commodities which production is encouraged, such as cassava, corn, sago, banana, potato and sorghum.