Titiek Soeharto reveals contaminated imported rice in Bulog warehouse: “Not suitable for eating”
Titiek Soeharto recently inspected a Bulog warehouse in Yogyakarta and discovered that the imported rice from last year stored there was heavily infested with weevils, rendering it unfit for human consumption. Expressing her concerns during a Commission IV meeting with the Agriculture Ministry, Titiek emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue to prevent contaminated rice from entering the market.
As the Chairperson of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Titiek Soeharto, urged Minister Amran Sulaiman to take immediate action and ensure that the infested rice is not released for public consumption. She pointed out the critical nature of the situation, stating that steps must be taken promptly to deal with the rice that is no longer safe to eat.
Arief Prasetyo Adi, the chief of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), disclosed that Bulog’s warehouses currently hold 1.9 million tons of rice, marking the highest government stock level in recent years. Within this total, there are 124,361 tons of commercial rice and 1,784,753 tons of government rice reserves (CBP), making up the overall stockpile.
The procurement of rice, whether imported or domestic, amounted to 103,427 tons, with 70,400 tons coming from the remaining import quota of 2024 and the rest sourced locally. Despite the distribution of 100,960 tons of rice under the SPHP program aimed at price stabilization as of February 2025, further allocations will be paused until the upcoming peak harvest season in April. Consequently, the total distribution of rice under the SPHP program, considering emergency relief and early 2025 food assistance, has reached 100,960 tons.
Titiek Soeharto’s discovery of weevil-infested rice in the Bulog warehouse sheds light on the need for immediate action to prevent contaminated rice from reaching the public. The urgency and seriousness of the situation were emphasized during a Commission IV meeting with the Agriculture Ministry, prompting calls for swift measures to address the issue effectively. With 1.9 million tons of rice stockpiled in Bulog’s warehouses, meticulous attention to quality control is imperative to safeguard public health and well-being.