Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian National Food Agency (Bapanas) has emphasised the need to maintain both the quality and quantity of the Government Rice Reserves (CBP) to stabilise food prices, supply, and public access.
Bapanas leader Arief Prasetyo Adi said CBP functions as more than a stockpile. Instead, it serves as a policy lever to stabilise prices, protect purchasing power, and curb food-related inflation.
Currently, CBP has reached 3.9 million tonnes, of which 798,800 tonnes have been distributed since the beginning of the year: 374,800 tonnes under the SPHP price stabilisation programme, 365,500 tonnes for June–July food assistance, 60,100 tonnes for budgeted programmes, and 418 tonnes for emergencies.
The Indonesian government plans to provide an additional 365,500 tonnes of rice for more than 18.27 million households in October and November, while leaving open the possibility of extending the programme into December depending on the evaluation results.
Arief stressed that public trust depends on maintaining high-quality reserves, adding it is time for the state logistics agency Bulog to speed up rice distribution through the SPHP price stabilisation programme, food assistance, and emergency response./.
