Perum Bulog’s Semarang branch recorded about 533 tonnes of rice orders from Kopdes Merah Putih village cooperatives. Branch head Yudha Aji Pribawa said the orders came from cooperatives in the branch’s service area and were beginning to arrive regularly.

Sales through the cooperatives form one channel for Bulog’s commercial rice. The agency also serves other segments, including modern retailers and affiliated retail outlets. Unlike rice held in the Government Rice Reserve, which is procured under government assignments, commercial rice purchases respond to market demand and customer orders.

## Commercial rice and public programmes

Yudha said Bulog can supply both premium products and rice for government programmes. Premium rice purchases for commercial use in the Semarang area, however, stood at about 5,000 tonnes, and demand was relatively limited. In his assessment, the higher price of premium rice helps explain why consumers in the area more often choose SPHP rice.

The 533-tonne figure represents orders received by Bulog Semarang; it is not a national sales figure or the cooperatives’ total rice requirement. The channel’s broader impact will depend on subsequent orders and actual deliveries.

Bulog Semarang separately held about 81,600 tonnes of rice for several purposes, including food assistance and supply and price stabilisation. The figures describe different things: 533 tonnes refers to cooperative orders, while 81,600 tonnes is the branch’s inventory for multiple distribution needs.

Expanding commercial channels can connect Bulog’s inventory with local buyers. Results will still depend on demand, pricing and the continuity of orders.