Recommendations for addressing quality issues of government rice reserve: Indonesia case study

Abstract

The management of government rice reserves (GRR) is crucial for maintaining national food security. However, prolonged storage can lead to a decrease in rice quality. This study aimed to assess the characteristics of rice stored in the GRR warehouse and provide recommendations to address the issue of deteriorating rice quality. This study collected and analysed GRR samples, secondary data, and information from relevant policymakers and stakeholders. The results showed that the quality of GRR, when stored for extended periods of up to 27 months, had notably degraded and was not suitable for human consumption. The main recommendations withdrawn from this study were (1) it is necessary to reconsider the criteria that determine the deterioration of the GRR’s quality as outlined in Minister of Agriculture Decree No. 45 of 2019, mainly moisture content and degree of milling; (2) GRR can be declared as low quality if it meets at least two parameters stated in the Ministerial Regulation, and it is not necessary to meet all four quality reduction parameters; and (3) the release of GRR can be initiated as soon as it has been stored for four months. This is aimed at preserving the quality of the GRR and minimising losses.