TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi explained why rice prices increased although the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) had imported the commodity at the end of last year. This, he argued, was due to poor distribution to traders so it could not yet succeed in curbing the price hike.
“Prices have not [dropped] because supplies haven’t been distributed properly. This must be spread quickly,” said Arief to Tempo at Foodbank of Indonesia HQ on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.
He claimed he had issued an order for the distribution of government rice reserves (CBP) to Bulog in December. However, the distribution was not optimal.
The distribution was hampered in almost all regions in Indonesia, including Jakarta. For example, the demand from the Cipinang Market reached 3,000 tons, but Bulog only channeled around 1,000 tons.
At present, there are around 30,000 tons of CBP available, consisting of the remaining absorption from the domestic harvest in 2022 and imported ones. According to him, Bulog should have distributed all of its existing reserves so that prices could plummet quickly.
Bulog planned to sell CBP to traders at a price of Rp8,300 to Rp8,900 per kilogram, so the price at the consumer level can drop to Rp9,450 per kilogram. Bapanas estimated that rice prices will be stable starting February 2023 at Rp9,450 per kilogram.
According to data from the Trade Ministry’s Market and Staple Needs Monitoring System, the price for medium-quality rice increased by 2.73 percent from the last month to Rp11,300 per kilogram as of January 10, 2023. Meanwhile, the price of premium rice reached Rp13,200 per kilogram.
The National Strategic Food Price Information Center (PIHPS) recorded that the price for medium-quality rice reached Rp12,750 per kilogram. Meanwhile, the price for super I quality rice is recorded at Rp14,100 per kilogram, and the price for low-quality rice is at Rp11,550 per kilogram.
The Jakarta Food Information website also noted that medium-quality rice prices increased by Rp44 compared to the previous day to Rp10,344 per kilogram. Meanwhile, the price for IR 42 rice reached Rp12,583 per kilogram, and the price of premium rice was Rp12,742 per kilogram.
RIANI SANUSI PUTRI
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