Agricom.id, BINTAN – Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) told the progress of rice stock in 2020 in the meeting of penanganan Covid-19 dan pemulihan ekonomi nasional (PC-PEN) kementerian lembaga 2020 committee.

"In the first planting, from January to June 2020, we got 23 million tons rice of carry over, and the people’s consumption is about 15 million tons. Alhamdulilah, the stocks in July – August, we had 7,83 million tons of rice," he said.

In the second planting, he continued, his side accelerate to produce in the existing areas that cover for about 7,5 million hectares, and the planted areas covering 87 percent. It is predicted there would be about 15 million tons (of rice). "By the available stocks, by the end of this year, we have enough rice,” he said about the rice stocks nationally, as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

He also mentioned that the production should be massively absorbed. This is important to maintain the stable price.

“In the harvest season, the price gets cheaper in general. We need to intervene. We have to prepare to absorb it. It should not be bought by PT. Bulog only but the synergy among the ministries and institutions, such as, the enterprises, Berdikari, Pertani, and others," he said.

About the other commodities, such as, the horticulture, corn, chicken meat, and eggs, he mentioned that the program hits the plan targets.

About the fund supports for the farmers, besides from the Expenditure, he mentioned that the agriculture gets the fund from kredit usaha rakyat (KUR) for about Rp 34,2 billion.

He did hope that the support fund in the KUR from coordinator ministers attended the meeting, such as, in maritime and investment; and in economy.

“I do hope, mister coordinator ministers, prepare the KUR and special incentive to buy the agricultural tools, such as, one province, one billion rupiah, such as, tractors, mill, rice milling unit (RMU). We have 186 RMUs but 80 percent are old fashion. If you prepared (the fund or tools) in credit, at least, in one year, it could be producing,” he said.

SYL is optimist that by the incentive given to the production input from KUR, the mechanism could minimize the production losses from 9 - 13 percent to be 3 - 4 percent. (A2)