Call Bapanas Boss To Bulog, DPR Highlights Rice Prices That Are Increasingly Expensive

JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission IV of the DPR, Sudin, highlighted the increase in the price of staple food commodities ahead of Eid al-Adha.

He questioned the price of rice which is getting more expensive at this time.

This was conveyed by Sudin in a hearing meeting of Commission IV of the DPR with the Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi and also the President Director of Perum Bulog Bayu Krisnamurthi, at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Monday, June 10.

Initially, the Sub-Department said that the attention of Commission IV of the DPR was regarding the development of national food prices, both at the producer and consumer levels.

"This is important considering that in the near future we will face Eid al-Adha, where food commodity prices will increase as usual," said Sudin in a meeting.

In addition, the Sub-Department also highlighted the increasingly expensive price of rice in several areas. Sub-Department admitted that it received complaints from the public regarding the increase in commodity prices.

"We also get questions from the community, but now the price of rice is getting more expensive?, in some areas, for example. This is the task of Bapanas," he said.

Responding to a question from the Sub-Department, Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi said referring to the projection of the food balance for the period January to December 2024, in general the price of 12 strategic food commodities is projected to be safe and sufficient.

"Especially rice commodities based on the consumption production balance for the period January to July 2024, a surplus of 0.65 million tons or 2.64 million tons lower than the same period the previous year," he said.

Meanwhile, continued Arief, based on the projection of KSA BPS as much as April 2024, the total production of rice from January to July was 18.64 million tons, lower by 2.47 million tons compared to the same period the previous year.

"This is our concern to face the following months considering we are entering the dry season," he explained.