Government Rice Reserves Strengthen Food Sovereignty

By : Hariyanto And Aldo Bella Putra | Saturday, March 03 2018 - 20:00 IWST

Agung Hendriadi, Kepala Badan Ketahanan Pangan Kementerian Pertanian

INDUSTRY.co.id - Purworejo - In order for the price of unhulled rice does not fall before and during the harvest, as well as to fill the government's rice reserves, Sergab Team intervened to buy grain farmers directly in the field.

"The government is moving quickly to help farmers to sell their grain, so that the farmers do not lose money, so we have to help the farmers, so the government is here," said Agung Hendriadi, Head of the Food Security Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture to reporters after witnessing the purchase transaction of dry paddy harvest Rp .4.300, - / kg in Pundensari village, Purwodadi district, Purworejo regency, Central Java, on Friday (2/3/2018).

Agung further explained, if allowed to follow the market mechanism, farmers certainly will not get a good price. Therefore, the TNI-led Sergab Team will continue to make purchases with Bulog and BRI.

According to him, the farmers have a big contribution to the procurement of government rice stocks that are stored through Bulog. Therefore, the farmers' unhusked absorption (sergab) operations are continuously conducted as an effort to guarantee reasonable purchase price.

"If there are areas that will harvest, farmers and agencies report to the Dandim, so that later will be purchased together Bulog," added Agung.

Absorption of grain according to Agung, is very important to fill the government's rice reserves stored in Bulog warehouse. The government is targeting a 2.2 million tonnes of rice absorption until June 2018. Therefore grain uptake should be improved from now on, where current harvest is in progress.

"If the government's rice reserve is strong, our food sovereignty will be stronger, so now is the time for bulog warehouses to be filled," explained Agung.

Safari sergap conducted by Agung Hendriadi who is also the Chief Executive of Team Sergab, previously conducted in D.I Province. Yogyakarta that are in Karang Mojo Village, Kec. Karang Mojo, Kab. Gunung Kidul, and Trirenggo Village, Kec. Bantul, Kab. Bantul.

In every location, TNI (Commandant Kodim), Babinsa, representatives from Bulog, BRI, Head of Provincial Office / Agency, and farmers belonging to a combination of farmer groups.