Jayapura – The availability of rice stocks in Papua and West Papua as of April 3, 2024, reached 18.95 million tons, this was directly conveyed by the State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) Bulog Regional Office (Kanwil).
“The rice available in the warehouse currently reaches 7.18 million tons, while there are still 11.8 million tons in delivery to here. So, the total accumulation can reach 18.95 million tons,” said Deputy Head of Bulog Kanwil Papua Kamin Siregar, in Jayapura on Wednesday, April 3 2024.
Siregar ensured that the availability of rice in Papua and West Papua is currently sufficient and very safe until the end of Eid or even three months ahead.
“The existing stock is planned for the distribution of subsidized rice, food assistance, and for Civil Servants (ASN) in the region, including the TNI-Polri,” said Siregar.
Siregar explained that so far the distribution of rice to Papua and West Papua has come from East Java, this is done to expedite delivery and distribution to Jayapura, for which it is currently being done through Makassar, South Sulawesi.
“This greatly assists in the distribution of rice to Eastern Indonesia, especially Papua,” said Siregar.
Meanwhile, for the rice supply in Jayapura City, there are currently three thousand tons available and it is ensured to be safe until May 2024.
Regarding the availability of rice stocks in West Papua, Acting Governor of Southwest West Papua Muhammad Musa’ad also conveyed, that he ensured that the availability of rice in his region would last from the beginning of Ramadan 1445 Hijri to Eid al-Fitr.
“I assure you that there is no shortage of rice in Southwest West Papua during the Ramadan month and the Eid al-Fitr holiday,” he said.
Muhammad Musa’ad’s party has directly confirmed this from Bulog Sorong regarding rice stocks in the local Bulog warehouse.
“Food rice assistance is stored in more than one warehouse, there are four thousand tons of rice, our warehouse capacity is ten thousand tons, and our rice stocks are available, so there is no need to panic,” said the Acting Governor of Southwest West Papua.
Muhammad Musa’ad appealed to the public not to be provoked by hoaxes regarding rice stocks. Do not be afraid and panic because if panic occurs, it will affect the volume of public spending for rice needs, which can cause problems.
Musa’ad hopes that all layers of society will continue to work together to maintain this rice stock so that these needs can be controlled and stable.
Daya Sri Arinda, Head of Bulog Branch Office Sorong, West Papua, confirmed the availability of rice stocks during Ramadan until Eid al-Fitr 2024.
According to her, as of February 23, their region still has rice stocks of 1,357,708 kilograms or about 1,357 tons. If calculated with the average consumption volume of the community in that area, it can last up to 1.6 months.
“In addition to the 1,357 tons of rice currently available in the warehouse, rice stocks will be added in March to prevent shortages during the Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holidays in 2024.
The total rice stock to enter the period from March to July 2024 could reach 5,500 tons, with details of 1,500 tons from North Surabaya, East Java, then 1,000 tons from Kediri, and another 3,000 tons from South Sulawesi.
“The stock for the next 3 months is actually to anticipate urgent events, such as disasters or other accidents,” said Daya Sri Arinda.
So besides the stock that is ready in the Warehouse, from March 4-10 until July, it is confirmed to arrive in Sorong City according to the plan to add rice stocks in Bulog Sorong.
“We ensure that rice stocks during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr are safe,” she said.
