“If the rice is damaged, it can be exchanged directly at Bulog. Even if the package has been opened, Bulog will replace it,” Amran said during the Cheap Food Movement event at the ministry office in Jakarta on Saturday.
He reaffirmed that rice produced by Indonesian farmers is of good quality. If problems occur, such as changes in color, unpleasant odors, or the presence of pests, Amran said they are likely caused by storage issues.
“This exchange program is under my authority as minister, because all of our rice is of good quality. The problem may lie in the storage process,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani reported that daily distribution of SPHP rice on August 29, 2025, reached 6,000 tons, as part of efforts to stabilize market prices.
“As of this morning, the total rice ordered and taken from Bulog reached 43,665 tons. Today’s distribution is the highest compared with our usual daily average,” Rizal said.
Earlier, a member of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Agricultural Economics Association (Perhepi) Khudori, raised concerns about the quality of some Bulog rice stocks.
He noted that part of the stock had been stored for more than a year, raising the risk of a musty odor. He also said rice milled from unhusked grains of mixed quality tends to be less durable.
Khudori emphasized that SPHP rice plays an important role as an alternative supply when stocks at modern retailers are limited.
However, he stressed that its quality must be maintained, as higher-quality rice would gain better acceptance among traders and consumers, thereby accelerating distribution and improving the program’s effectiveness.
Related news: Minister urges Bulog to speed up distribution of SPHP rice
Related news: Bulog takes steps for on-target SPHP rice distribution
Translator: Yoanita Hastryka Djohan
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
