North Sumatra Bulog Perum Ready To Sell Saset Rice Again

Arif Mandu, Head of the North Sumatra Bulog Perum Region, wants the saset rice to be produced again (doc. ANTARA/Michael Siahaan).

JAKARTA - The presence of saset rice can be an alternative in the midst of the current high price of rice.

However, the saset rice that has been present since 2018 is no longer produced for several reasons.

In fact, according to the North Sumatra Bulog Regional Leadership, Arif Mandu, saset rice can be a solution for the community.

"The consideration is that the price is cheaper," said Arif as quoted by ANTARA.

As is known, the saset rice is wrapped in 200 grams of packaged at a selling price of Rp. 2,500 per sachet.

However, continued Arif, the saset rice was not in demand or the target market was not right so it stopped production.

According to him, saset rice should ideally be intended for students who live in boarding houses or laborers who live alone.

"The demand is lacking. Families usually don't buy it (sachet rice). The portion is not enough. If 200 grams are cooked, the result is at least three rice plates," said Arif.

Even so, Arif still encourages saset rice to be produced again considering that the price of premium and medium rice is still above the highest retail price (HET) in North Sumatra.

In the past week, the average price of medium rice in North Sumatra reached Rp13,500-Rp13,619 per kilogram, while the HET was at Rp11,500 per kilogram.

Then, the average price of premium rice is at Rp. 14,580-Rp. 14,700 per kilogram, higher than HET which is only Rp. 14,400 per kilogram.

Therefore, Arif emphasized that North Sumatra's Bulog Perum is ready to sell saset rice again in his area if Perum Bulog returns to production.

So far, North Sumatra's Bulog Perum has done various ways to stabilize rice prices. One of them is distributing the Food Supply and Price Stabilization Program (SPHP) rice.

From January 2023 to November 2023, Perum Bulog North Sumatra has distributed 66,771 tons of SPHP rice or 91.93 percent of the target of 73 thousand tons.