In Depok, The Trade Minister Meets The Rice Price Still High

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan at Cisalak Market, Depok, West Java. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan still encounters a high rice price at Cisalak Market, Depok, West Java, namely for medium rice of Rp. 10,000 per kilogram (kg) and a premium rice price of Rp. 12 thousand per kg far above the price from Bulog.

"For the price of rice from Bulog, Rp. 8,200 per kg, the problem may only be from Bulog to the market, to take it to Bulog is limited, only big agents and selling it is even more expensive," said Zulhas, the Minister of Trade's greeting, during his visit to Cisalak Market, Depok City, West Java, Saturday, January 28.

Zulhas said he wanted to know why the price of rice did not fall, how the distribution from Bulog reached the market, as happened to cooking oil from the factory to the market how to make the price up to Rp. 14,000 per kg. "We have found the system, so the price of oil is stable," he said, quoted from ANTARA.

Zulhas promised that later he would discuss how the price of Bulog rice, which was Rp. 8,200 to Rp. 8,300 per kg, was there and reached the seller. "Again, we are looking for a way to get to the buyer at a price of Rp. 9,450 per kg," said the Trade Minister.

He said the high price of medium rice in the market was because Bulog's distribution to the community was still limited to large agents, so when it arrived at the market the price had increased.

"If people take it to Bulog, it's limited, that's why big agents take it so that the price is expensive," said Zulhas.