Zulhas About The Cause Of Rising Rice Prices: The Harvest Period Is Over

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs (Menko Pangan) Zulkifli Hasan acknowledged that the price of medium and premium rice in a number of regions has increased at this time. In fact, it has passed the Highest Retail Price (HET).

The man who is familiarly called Zulhas said that the current increase in rice prices was triggered by the completion of the harvest season. Thus, the stock is running low.

"So, yesterday's harvest season, the main harvest starts in March, April. Currently, it's still not (harvest anymore). It's only next month's harvest season again, August," he told reporters when met in Jakarta, Friday, July 18.

Therefore, said Zulhas, to reduce rice prices in the market, the government has disbursed 1.3 million tons of SPHP rice for the period July to December 2025 or for the next six months.

"With a price of Rp. 62,500 per 5kg, the fall is Rp. 12,500 per kilogram (kg). Hopefully this can help stabilize prices where there is an increase," he said.

Based on the price panel of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), nationally, the price of medium rice rose to IDR 14,314 per kilogram (kg), exceeding the highest retail price (HET), which was IDR 12,500 per kg. Meanwhile, premium rice rose to IDR 16,072 per kg, passing through the national HET, which was IDR 14,900 per kg.

In more detail, the price of medium rice in zone I rose 10.8 percent to Rp13,850 per kg, zone II rose 11.7 percent to Rp14,550 per kg, and zone III jumped 19.83 percent to position of Rp16,177 per kg.

Meanwhile, premium rice in zone I increased 3.6 percent to Rp15,435 per kg, zone II jumped 7.1 percent to position of Rp16,493 per kg, and zone III rose 14.23 percent to the level of Rp18,049 per kg.