UNAIR NEWS – A successful career does not always follow the trajectory of one’s academic background, as evidenced by Awaludin Iqbal, a graduate of the Political Science program at Universitas Airlangga’s (UNAIR) Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP).
Today, the former student senate president has risen to prominence as the Regional Head of Perum Bulog in East Java. Achieving this milestone, he says, was no small feat, requiring persistence, a readiness to seize opportunities, and a firm dedication to serving the public.
“When I first applied, I submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs—then called Depdagri, the Lamongan Regional Government, and Bulog. To my surprise, I passed the first stage for all three. I started as a civil servant in the regional government but later received an offer from Bulog,” he recalled.
Safeguarding food security
As the largest branch of Bulog, East Java plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the country’s food security due to its position as a key agricultural hub. Iqbal explained that Bulog’s main responsibilities focus on ensuring food availability, affordability, and stability. “Our priority is procurement—securing food supplies, particularly rice. As East Java is a key agricultural region, our primary tasks are sourcing and absorbing local produce,” he said.
To ensure affordability, Bulog is committed to making rice accessible both physically and economically, allowing the public to purchase it at reasonable prices.
“We distribute and balance stock to ensure it is physically available and accessible to the public. We also stabilize food supply and prices through the Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) program, which ensures rice is sold at affordable prices,” he added.
Iqbal emphasized that these efforts aim to reinforce stability, which he described as Bulog’s core mission. “The policies assigned to Bulog by the government and then delegated to us in East Java have been effectively implemented to achieve this goal,” he explained.
Making meaningful impact
As a leader, Iqbal has successfully implemented policies that have significantly contributed to food stability in East Java. He highlighted several key achievements under his tenure. “This year, we met 99% of our target for food supply. Additionally, SPHP distribution exceeded expectations, reaching 105%, and the food assistance program achieved 100% of its objectives,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Iqbal expressed hope that national food security can be consistently maintained through collaboration among all stakeholders, guided by the principles of food security. “Food is an essential need for any nation. No country can prosper or remain stable without securing its food supply,” he concluded.
Author: Mohammad Adif Albarado
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
