Badanas Officially Sets Medium And Premium Rice Prices, Here Are The Details

JAKARTA - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) officially stipulates a National Food Agency Regulation (Perbadan) on the Highest Retail Price (HET) for medium and premium rice. This is to maintain reasonable prices at the consumer level.

"Through Agency Number 5 of 2024 concerning Amendments to Agency Number 7 of 2023 concerning HET Rice, medium rice prices, and premium rice are regulated by region," said Head of Badanas Arief Prasetyo Adi quoting Antara.

Arief said in the agency, HET rice for Java, Lampung, and South Sumatra, HET medium rice Rp12,500 per kilogram (kg) and HET premium rice Rp14,900 per kg.

Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Bengkulu, Riau, Riau Islands, Jambi, and Bangka Belitung Islands, HET medium rice Rp13,100 per kg and HET premium rice Rp15,400 per kg.

For the areas of Bali and West Nusa Tenggara, HET medium rice is IDR 12,500 per kg and HET premium rice is IDR 14,900 per kg. The East Nusa Tenggara region, HET medium rice IDR 13,100 per kg and HET premium rice IDR 15,400 per kg.

Furthermore, for the Sulawesi region, HET medium rice is IDR 12,500 per kg and HET premium rice is IDR 14,900 per kg. The Kalimantan region, HET medium rice IDR 13,100 per kg and HET premium rice IDR 15,400 per kg.

Maluku area, HET medium rice Rp13,500 per kg and HET premium rice Rp15,800 per kg and finally Papua, HET medium rice Rp13,500 per kg and HET premium rice Rp15,800 per kg.

He revealed that the stipulation of the HET rice regulation strengthens the relaxation policy that has been implemented through the previous Head of Badanas Decree.

Arief emphasized that the adjustment of the HET of rice is inseparable from efforts to stabilize the supply and price of rice, where the upstream policy is also in line with the downstream.

He explained the importance of maintaining a balance between upstream and downstream interests regarding the purchase price of the government (HPP) of grain and rice.

He emphasized that prices at the producer level must be in line with prices at the consumer level.

In addition, Arief also said that maintaining this balance was a challenge that must be answered by involving all relevant parties, as emphasized by President Joko Widodo during his working visit to Bulog's warehouse and markets.

"As often conveyed by Mr. President Joko Widodo during a working visit to Bulog warehouses and markets, it is not easy to balance upstream downstream, but this is a challenge that we must answer by involving expansion stakeholders from upstream to downstream," added Arief.

Arief admitted that the process of determining the HET of rice had undergone various dynamics, discussions, and input from various stakeholders in the field of extortion.

"This rice HET is not necessarily born, but through a long process of discussion involving farmer organizations, milling, ministries and related institutions. We will jointly analyze this by considering various aspects, including how it will impact inflation," added Arief.