Indonesia, as one of the largest rice consumers in the world, mostly relies on its own domestic production to meet its rice demand. However, due to various reasons such as unfavorable weather conditions and limited land availability, the country has to import rice to supplement its domestic supply. In 2017, the country recorded a significant amount of rice import, which is called “Total Impor Beras 2017”. Here is a detailed overview of the topic.
Overview of Total Impor Beras 2017
According to the Ministry of Agriculture data, Indonesia imported about 2.9 million tonnes of rice in 2017. This figure is higher than the previous year’s record, which was 2.4 million tonnes. The total cost of rice imports was around US$1.5 billion. The primary reason for this surge in rice imports was a severe drought that affected some of the country’s best rice-producing regions.
The government of Indonesia aimed to maintain the rice supply by importing rice from neighboring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and India. The country also increased its rice imports to stabilize the price of rice, which could have gone up if there were no imports.
Factors that led to Total Impor Beras 2017
The following factors contributed to the surge in rice imports in 2017:
Unfavorable Weather Conditions
Indonesia experienced a prolonged drought in 2017 that affected the country’s rice production. The dry spell lasted for months, causing a severe rice shortage in the market.
Inadequate Domestic Rice Production
Although Indonesia is a rice-producing country, it’s domestic production is not enough to meet the country’s demand. The demand for rice is always high, and the country has to rely on imports to supplement its domestic supply.
Rice Price Stability
The government of Indonesia aims to maintain the price of rice affordable for its citizens. Therefore, it increases rice imports to keep the price of rice stable. If the price of rice increases, the government may face a public outcry, which could affect its popularity.
Distribution Issues
Even when the country produces enough rice, distribution is still an issue. Some islands in Indonesia, such as Papua and Sulawesi, are far from the main rice-producing regions. Therefore, importing rice is a solution to ensure that the rice supply reaches these areas.
Impact of Total Impor Beras 2017
The surge in rice imports in 2017 had various effects on the Indonesian economy and society. Here are some of the effects:
Increase in Rice Prices
The increase in rice imports did not prevent the rice prices from increasing. The rice price increased by 10 – 15% compared to the previous year. This increase could have been more if there were no imports.
Decrease in Farmer’s Income
The rice imports affected the income of Indonesian rice farmers as the demand for domestic rice decreased. The farmers could not sell their produce at a good price, which affected their income.
Increase in Transportation Cost
The transportation cost of rice imports is relatively higher than domestic transportation. Therefore, importing rice increased the transportation cost, which affected the final price of rice.
Food Security
The surge in rice imports raised concerns about food security in Indonesia. The country, which mostly relies on its domestic rice production, was importing a significant amount of rice. Therefore, there were concerns about the country’s ability to feed its population in case of a food crisis.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Total Impor Beras 2017, which refers to the rice imports in Indonesia in 2017, was a response to unfavorable weather conditions and inadequate domestic rice production. The government of Indonesia aimed to maintain the rice supply by importing rice from neighboring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and India. However, this surge in rice imports had various effects on the Indonesian economy and society, such as the increase in rice prices, decrease in farmer’s income, and transportation cost. Therefore, the government should focus on increasing domestic rice production to meet the country’s demand and reduce the reliance on imports.
