Government Targets National Rice Price to Apply This Year

JAKARTA - The government targets that the national one-price rice policy can be implemented this year. This policy aims to ensure that rice prices in all regions can be sold at the same price without significant differences due to logistics costs.

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan said the concept of one rice price was a reflection of the fuel policy which applied one price.

"We want the price of rice to be the same as the others, one price. Like gasoline. Whether on Java, outside Java, the price is the same," said Zulhas in a press conference at the Coordinating Ministry for Food and Agriculture Office, Jakarta, Monday, January 12.

Zulhas, as he is affectionately called, said the government would bear the cost of transportation in the scheme of distributing rice at one price. He emphasized that this policy was being tried out thoroughly so that the eastern region would no longer be burdened with higher prices.

"Well, we will try to make rice one price in 2026 wherever it is. Don't let, for example, East Indonesia pay more expensive," he said.

In addition, Zulhas said that to realize this policy, the government considered it necessary to strengthen the role of Perum Bulog. One of them, by taking the business margin so that it is able to carry out the national distribution assignment.

In the meeting which took place today, the government agreed to adjust the Bulog fee margin by 7 percent. This figure is lower than the initial proposal of 10 percent, but is considered sufficient to support Bulog operations while ensuring the running of the one-price rice program.

"It is calculated that between the Minister of Finance, from BPKP to meet the figure of 10 percent requested, but it was agreed that 7 percent would take fees. This is mainly to ensure that the price of rice is one price throughout Indonesia," he said.

Zulhas admitted that Bulog's margin has been too small and does not support the company's operations, even to pay employees.

"That's why we just finished so that Bulog was given a role to take advantage of like before. Now Bulog doesn't take anything. Only Rp50, so for his salary sometimes it's less, not enough," he said.