Bapanas: 29,990 Tons of Bulog Rice Reduced Quality

JAKARTA KOMPAS – The National Food Agency or Bapanas has found 29,990 tons of low-quality rice from Perum Bulog. In addition, there are also 1.45 million tons of rice that have been stored for more than 6 months. Bapanas has requested Bulog to reprocess the rice.

This follows the discovery of approximately 1,200 tons of substandard rice in the Bulog warehouse in Ternate, North Maluku. The finding was the result of a surprise inspection by the Chairperson of Commission IV of the People's Representative Council (DPR), Siti Hediati Hariyadi, also known as Titiek Soeharto, on September 23, 2025.

The Director of Food Vigilance at Bapanas, Nita Yulianis, stated on Monday (6/10/2025) that Bapanas has checked the rice stocks of Bulog, which have deteriorated in quality. As a result, 29,990 tons out of 3.84 million tons of government rice reserves (CBP) have experienced a decline in quality.

The rice of declining quality consists of 3,100 tons of domestically procured rice and 26,890 tons of imported rice. Bapanas also found that 1.45 million tons of imported rice, or 37.95 percent of the total CBP, has been in storage for more than six months.

"We have asked Bulog to reprocess the rice to improve its quality before distribution. Furthermore, Bulog also needs to periodically test the quality of the CBP to ensure the rice distributed to the public is fit and safe for consumption," he said at the Regional Inflation Control Coordination Meeting held by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Jakarta.

We have asked Bulog to reprocess the rice to improve its quality before distribution.

Bulog's rice reprocessing involves cleaning and rewashing damaged rice. Afterward, the rice is retested in a laboratory. If it is still edible, it will be distributed to the public. If it does not meet standards, it will be processed into animal feed.

Several groups have raised concerns about the potential for a decline in the quality of the CBP managed by Bulog. This decline could affect rice imported in 2024 and rice containing low-quality grain resulting from the policy of absorbing any quality grain (a sign of quality standards).

IPB University's Faculty of Agriculture Professor, Dwi Andreas Santosa, estimates that 100,000 tons of Bulog rice will deteriorate and become unfit for consumption (disposal), potentially causing state losses of Rp 1.2 trillion. Indonesian Ombudsman member, Yeka Hendra Fatika, projects that 300,000 tons of Bulog rice are at risk of disposal, potentially causing state losses of Rp 4 trillion (Kompas, August 26, 2025).

Rice price

In addition to the quality of Bulog rice, Bapanas also addressed the issue of the stabilization of supply and food prices (SPHP). The problem lies in the price differences of SPHP rice distributed through the TNI/Polri compared to other Bulog partners, such as Kios Pangan, Merah Putih Village/Neighborhood Cooperatives, and Rumah Pangan Kita.

"The TNI/Polri sells SPHP rice at the same price as SPHP rice in the Bulog warehouse. This has led to a decrease in public interest in purchasing SPHP rice from other Bulog partners who sell it at higher prices. We hope there will be coordination among Bulog partners to standardize the pricing," said Nita.

Bapanas has determined that the price of SPHP rice in Bulog warehouses is between Rp 11,000 and Rp 11,600 per kilogram (kg), depending on the zoning. Meanwhile, the retail price of SPHP rice ranges from Rp 12,500 to Rp 13,500 per kg, also depending on the zoning.

In the meeting, the Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, stated that in the price level matrix and the changes in the price development index (IPH), rice is classified as having a low IPH and a high price level. This means that although its price is high, the contribution of rice to the IPH in each region is low.

"This still needs to be monitored, considering that what consumers pay is the price of rice, not the IPH or inflation," he said.

BPS also noted that throughout September 2025, the national average price of various qualities of rice reached Rp 15,375 per kg, a decrease of 0.13 percent month-on-month. However, on an annual basis, the price of rice increased by 4.06 percent.

In September 2025, rice contributed to an annual inflation rate of 0.17 percent and a monthly deflation rate of 0.01 percent. Meanwhile, the general inflation rate for that month was 0.21 percent annually and 2.65 percent monthly.

Referring to the Food Price Panel of Bapanas, as of October 6, 2025, at 11:30 AM WIB, the national average price of medium rice at the consumer level is Rp 13,962 per kg. This price is still 3.42 percent above the national average of the highest retail price (HET) for medium rice, which is set at Rp 13,500 per kg.

The national average price of premium rice at the consumer level is valued at Rp 16,084 per kg. This price is still 7.95 percent above the national average HET for premium rice, which is set at Rp 14,900 per kg.