House of Representatives Commission IV: Rice Imports Thwart President's Food Self-Sufficiency Target

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission IV of the House of Representatives, Alex Indra Lukman, reminded ministries and institutions to stop importing rice.

He believes that continuing rice imports could fail President Prabowo Subianto's food self-sufficiency target.

"Rice self-sufficiency means we no longer import rice to meet domestic consumption needs. If rice imports continue for whatever purpose, it means the president's food self-sufficiency target has failed," Alex said on Friday, August 22.

He also urged the government to formulate planned rice distribution regulations. He believes that adjustments to the highest retail price (HET) for rice based on real-world conditions are necessary.

Currently, Alex said, businesses selling rice above the HET are potentially subject to administrative and even criminal sanctions.

He believes that businesses have demonstrated their commitment to supporting the price of unhusked rice by purchasing dry harvested unhusked rice at Rp6,500 per kilogram.

This price was set through Decree of the Head of the National Food Agency No. 14 of 2025, which amends Decree No. 2 of 2025 concerning Government Purchase Prices and Price Reductions for Unhusked Rice and Rice.

"The government must appreciate the sacrifices of our business owners by willingly purchasing unhusked rice according to the Highest Retail Price (HET). However, we must not subject them to criminal sanctions for selling rice exceeding the HET of Rp12,000 per kg," Alex emphasized.

According to him, with an unhusked rice price of Rp6,500 per kg, the HET for rice of Rp12,000 per kg is no longer relevant if all production costs are taken into account. Alex believes that the HET for rice should function as an early warning system for the government to decide on market intervention policies.

"If economic actors have sold rice exceeding the HET, the government will immediately flood the market using existing rice reserve stocks," said the PDIP legislator.

Alex also reminded us that the country has substantial rice reserves, amounting to 4 million tons or 4 billion kilograms, which can be used to suppress prices at the right time.

If used at the right time, he said, people won't be afraid to buy rice of any quality.

"Traders won't be disadvantaged either. No businessman can fight the state. That's what my life mentor said. It's a foolish businessman to dare to fight the state," Alex concluded.