Plans To Remove Medium-Premium Rice Caste Will Be Reported To Prabowo

JAKARTA - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has finished discussing the elimination of the medium and premium rice classes, as well as changes in the highest retail price (HET). There are four alternatives prepared related to quality provisions to rice prices.

Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi said the results of his internal discussions had been submitted to the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan. Furthermore, it will be reported and discussed further with President Prabowo Subianto.

Arief said further discussions related to the removal of the medium and premium rice classes, as well as changes in the highest retail price (HET) were needed, considering that these commodities are very sensitive to price increases.

"I have finished (the calculation), I submit it to the Coordinating Minister. He will also tell the President which is the best, right? Because this is sensitive, this rice is up Rp100, Rp200 is very significant. Because the collectors are 31 to 32 million tons," he said when met at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 29.

Arief revealed that there are four alternatives related to the latest quality, quality, and HET rice provisions. But unfortunately, Arief admitted that he could not convey in detail what alternatives were proposed.

I propose several alternatives According to input from the ministry of institutions and also from business actors. Alternative one, two, three, four. But alternative later, yes," he said.

Regarding the elimination of premium and medium rice classes as well as price provisions, Arief admitted that he had also involved many parties. Especially the Indonesian Rice and Rice Milling Entrepreneurs Association (Perpadi).

Furthermore, Arief ensured that the results of this discussion would pay attention to farmers and consumers.

The main thing is the best for the community. Because if the price is too high, it's a pity for the people, if the price is too low, it's a pity for the rice pangolin, later there won't be anyone milling rice," he said.

For your information, later the new provisions on the quality and quality of rice will be contained in the revision of the National Food Agency Regulation Number 2 of 2024. This regulation previously regulated four classes of rice quality, namely premium, medium, submedium and also broken.

Meanwhile, the highest retail price (HET) will be stated in the revision of the Food Agency Regulation Number 5 of 2024. This regulation previously regulated the HET of premium and medium rice for various regions.