Safe Stock of Staples After Eid

JAKARTA – Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi reported to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) that the stock of staple foods after Ramadan was safe and good.

“I just reported to the President regarding several updates on food conditions after Eid. First, I said that the stock for all strategic basic needs is in safe and good condition,” said Arief at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday (24/4/ 2024).

For rice, said Arief, the government’s food reserves are still safe at above 1.3 million tons. According to him, the price of rice to date tends to be stable and down from some time before.

“Today the President gave directions that prices at the farmer level must be maintained properly. So he ordered Bapanas of course together with Bulog to carry out off take or absorption because this April the harvest is equivalent to 5.5 million tons of rice,” he explained.

Then, regarding HET, according to President Jokowi, he stipulated price flexibility as stated some time ago.

“So there is price flexibility between the 10th and yesterday, the 23rd, today we will extend it until May 31 this year. But with the caveat that we will also harmonize it so that we also apply the agency’s regulations. So the figure is almost certain for premium rice “HET is IDR 14,900,” he said.

Specifically for medium rice, according to him, it will be discussed again. “The figure is approximately Rp. 12,000-12,500,” he continued.

For corn, continued Arief, the price will be adjusted. The previous price of IDR 4,200 per kg will be increased to around IDR 5,000. “From here we all know that the government’s support for farmers and livestock breeders is very high,” explained Arief.

Arief said that his party conveyed to the public that the prices of agro inputs for several commodities had increased. So, he said, it was very forced to be adjusted.

“And one more thing, we have to convey to the public, especially consumers, that we really have to adjust this. Because agro input from several strategic commodities is also increasing. So we all believe that increasing production will be proportional to the welfare of farmers and breeders,” he said.

(fjo)