The implementation and synergy of Indonesian national food reserves

Abstract

In aggregate, Indonesia’s national food reserves (rice) in early 2021 are adequate, as indicated by the stock to use ratio (SUR) reaching 25.16% above the FAO recommendation of 17‒18%, with the end of 2020 rice stock reaching 7.9 million tons from 29.3 million tons rice consumption needs. As mandated by Food Law 18/2012, Indonesia has established a multi-layered mechanism of national food reserves, consist of a central government food reserve, regional government food reserves (provincial, district/city, and village level), and community food reserves. This paper aims to examine the various implementation of Indonesia’s national rice reserves along with synergy recommendations to strengthen government, regional governments, and community’s food reserves. The approach used is descriptive qualitative analysis, by exploring information and secondary data across institutions with national and regional coverage. The results of the study show: (1) the need for an increase in Central Government Rice Reserves (CGRR) in the range of 1.5‒2 million tons accompanied by strengthening the mechanism to absorb farmers production of unhulled rice/rice to stabilize rice prices especially at the peak harvest time; (2) strengthening the intensity of advocacy and coordination amongst key-stakeholders in provincial and district/city to optimize the implementation of government food reserves area; and (3) strengthening and developing village-based community food barns through cooperation with the Strategic Command for Rice Mill Development (Kostraling) and Village Owned Enterprise (BUM Desa and BUM Desma).