The Story of the Stone and the Bucket in the Sack of Rice “Any Quality”

The mounting rice stock of Perum Bulog records a number of stories. There is a story of the easing of the action of buying rice from large rice corporations at high prices. There is also a little story of stones, low-quality rice, and a bucket of mixing in a sack of rice of any quality.

As of May 18, 2025, the Bulog rice stock reached 3.77 million tons. Of this amount, 2.1 million tons are the result of domestic rice procurement since the beginning of 2025. The remainder consists of the 2024 rice stock, including imported rice.

The abundant rice stock is inseparable from the government's assignment to Bulog to absorb 3 million tons of dry harvested grain (GKP) from within the country throughout 2025. The government also issued a government purchase price (HPP) policy for GKP at the farmer level without fractionation and any quality (without special quality standards) of at least IDR 6,500 per kilogram.

The government is also strengthening Bulog's capital with an additional fund of Rp 16.5 trillion through the government investment operator (OIP) mechanism. The use of OIP funds requires returns and accountability reports from Bulog.

Some of the absorbed GKP is of low quality, such as having a high water content and being slightly damaged due to being submerged in floodwater.

Jumair, a rice milling entrepreneur and partner of Bulog from Cirebon, West Java, on Friday (23/5/2025), assessed that the government's policy has been effective throughout the rice harvest of the first planting season this year. The government and Bulog have also involved small and medium rice milling operators more optimally.

In Cirebon, Bulog immediately pays cash for the GKP deposited by its partners. This mechanism allows small mills to more freely manage their capital.

"In addition, the policy of absorbing any quality of rice can also reduce the action of buying rice at high prices that has often been carried out by large rice corporations in the last three years," said Jumair when contacted from Jakarta.

However, he continued, the absorption of any quality grain faced challenges when it first started. One of them was that the GKP that was absorbed was of low quality, such as having a high water content and being slightly damaged due to being submerged in floodwater.

This occurred because some farmers and harvesters are harvesting rice earlier due to the allure of the relatively high HPP GKP. Additionally, the significant rainfall and flooding affecting several regions have also contributed to this situation.

"Most of the milling partners of Bulog have prepared the means and facilities for drying rice. However, there are still some who have not prepared them due to limited capital," said Jumair.

In Indramayu, West Java, several sacks of rice were found containing empty or hollow grains, unripe rice, and straw. Additionally, stones, pieces of metal, plastic plates, and mixing buckets were also discovered.

One of the findings was at the rice milling factory of PT AB2TI Petani Sejahtera Nusantara (PSN). This year, PT AB2TI PSN received a milling order to process unhusked rice into rice from several Bulog partners.

The Director of PT AB2TI PSN, Masroni, admitted to finding empty rice grains, unripe rice grains, and straw while sorting through sacks of rice. Additionally, stones, several pieces of metal, plastic plates, and mixing buckets were also discovered.

"Not much. Only in a number of sacks of rice. That also happened at the beginning of the program to absorb any quality rice," he said.

In fact, stones, several pieces of iron, plastic plates, and mixing buckets were also found.

Masroni suspects that this happened because the policy of absorbing any quality of rice was not widely disseminated. In addition, there are a handful of individuals, especially from the penebas, who are trying to profit from the policy.

"While the government is purchasing rice of any quality, sell the empty and unripe rice mixed with standard quality rice. To ensure the rice sacks are filled abundantly and heavily, add stones, plates, pieces of metal, and mixing buckets," he stated.

Both Masroni and Jumair considered the policy of absorbing grain without fractionation and any quality to be good for farmers' welfare. However, the policy needs to be followed by socialization and education for farmers and cutters to continue selling grain with at least standard quality.

"This is important to maintain the quality of Bulog rice that will be used as government rice reserves. We must ensure that the paddy, when milled, does not turn into broken rice, or worse, cannot be processed into rice at all," said Masroni.

Meanwhile, Jumair added that if the government intends to continue this policy in the future, the facilities and infrastructure for drying rice at small mills need to be strengthened. In addition, the government should increase the storage warehouses for Bulog rice.

"For the time being, Bulog is also renting several of our warehouses to store rice. Hopefully, in the future, the government will also enhance the quality of storage facilities for small and medium rice milling entrepreneurs," said Jumair, who is also a member of the West Java Rice Milling and Rice Entrepreneurs Association (Perpadi).

The National Food Agency (Bapanas) acknowledged that there are a number of challenges in implementing the policy of absorbing grain without fractionation and any quality. Meanwhile, Bulog emphasized that grain or rice entering Bulog's warehouse must go through a thorough quality inspection process.

Bapanas Chief Arief Prasetyo Adi said that the policy of absorbing grain without fractionation and any quality has proven to be able to increase the government's rice reserves and improve farmers' welfare. By the end of May 2025, Bulog's rice stock is expected to increase to at least 3.8 million tons.

Rice stocks at the end of 2025 are also expected to reach 10.23 million tons. This is due to the national rice production from January to June 2025, which is projected to have a surplus of 3.33 million tons, an increase of 128 percent compared to January to June 2024.

In addition, Arief continued, the national average price of GKP at the farmer level also reached Rp 6,500 per kg as of May 18, 2025. In the near future, the national average price of GKP is expected to reach Rp 7,000 per kg.

"However, we acknowledge that challenges such as low rice yield (50.45 percent) and high moisture content (29.4 percent) still need to be addressed through proper harvest education and the addition of post-harvest facilities," he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of Procurement at Bulog, Prihasto Setyanto, emphasized that every grain or rice entering the Bulog warehouse must undergo a thorough quality inspection process. This inspection involves independent surveyors to ensure transparency and accuracy of quality standards.

"Every batch of rice that enters has undergone a quality testing process involving an independent third party, ensuring that its quality meets the established standards," he stated in a press release.

Every grain or rice that enters the Bulog warehouse must undergo a thorough quality inspection process involving independent surveyors to ensure transparency and accuracy of quality standards.

Prihasto also stated that Bulog not only ensures the quality of rice or unhusked rice at the beginning of the reception. Bulog also implements a management system for the maintenance of rice and other commodities stored in warehouses periodically until the time of distribution.

"This is Bulog's commitment to maintaining public trust and ensuring the availability of quality rice for the community," he said.

Amid the mounting stock of Bulog rice, the government is also striving to maintain the distribution channels for Bulog rice. So far, the distribution channels for Bulog rice include commercial rice sales, disaster assistance, as well as rice aid for low-income families and affordable food initiatives through the Food Supply and Price Stabilization Program (SPHP).

According to Arief, the government will reintroduce the SPHP program, particularly for low-income families, after the average price of GKP at the farmer level exceeds Rp 7,000 per kg. In addition, the government is also finalizing plans for rice exports.

"Currently, Indonesia has reached a position of self-sufficiency in rice. With national production exceeding 32 million to 33 million tons by 2025, we are optimistic that we will not import rice. In fact, it is believed that Indonesia will be able to export 2,000 tons of rice to Malaysia in accordance with the future national food availability," he said.