Inspection At Perumnas Klender Market, Bulog Boss Finds Premium Rice Sold For IDR 17,000 Per Kg

Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso conducted an inspection at Perumnas Klender Market. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - President Director (Managing Director) of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso found that the price of premium rice was sold above the highest retail price (HET) of Rp. 13,900 per kilogram (Kg).

In fact, some sell at IDR 16,000 to IDR 17,000 per kg.

This was conveyed by Buwas, Budi Waseso's nickname after conducting an inspection at Perumnas Klender Market, East Jakarta, Monday, August 28.

In fact, said Buwas, the government has set a premium rice HET at Rp. 13,900 per kg through the National Food Agency Regulation Number 7 of 2023 concerning the Highest Retail Price of Rice.

"So people buy it not cheap rice, but buy it into expensive premium rice, above Rp. 13,000. Now we see for ourselves premium rice until there are Rp. 16,000 to Rp. 17,000," said Buwas.

Based on these findings, said Buwas, the government continues to strive to stabilize the price of premium rice in the market so that community needs can be met.

For this reason, said Buwas, Bulog received an assignment to distribute medium rice with premium quality as part of the Food Stability and Food Price (SPHP) program.

The price of rice from Bulog is for a size of 5 kilograms (kg) of Rp. 47,000. Meanwhile, if it is purchased in the form of Rp. 9,450 per kilogram. However, currently, Bulog does not sell rice in retail. This is to avoid mixing.

From the beginning of the year to today, Bulog has poured as much as 723,000 tons of SPHP rice throughout Indonesia.

Currently, the rice stock in Bulog Warehouse is above the target of 1.2 million tons, which is 1.6 million tons.

Furthermore, Buwas said, SPHP rice has been distributed simultaneously throughout Indonesia starting August 28, 2023 and it is certain that SPHP rice will flood markets in all regions through retailers and also available in modern retailers.

"The distribution of SPHP rice that has been running starting earlier this year will be massive through retail traders, for that we need to see directly and ensure this program runs on target," he said.