Even Though The Grand Panen Is Delayed, Khofifah Affirms That Rice Stock In East Java Is Still Sufficient And The Price Is Affordable

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa emphasized that food stocks, especially rice in the East Java region, are still very sufficient and the price is affordable, although the harvest is possible to delay.

"It's very sufficient, food stocks are very sufficient and the price is affordable. People's reach power can access medium rice in East Java and from September 2023 until now the cheapest in Java," he said in Kediri, quoted from Antara, Saturday, February 3.

The governor during a visit to SMAN 5 Taruna Brawijaya Kediri said the government was trying to maintain stable prices for basic commodities by market operations.

According to him, market operations are carried out every day both when he visits the area or not. This is done as a form of market penetration.

"We do cheap markets almost every day there or not there I am. Because the penetration of market prices is in accordance with the people's reach power and it must be done anywhere at any time," he said.

He added that the purchase price of the government (HPP) for harvested dry unhulled rice (GKP) is currently quite high. However, the price of rice is still the lowest in Java.

"So, at this time how the added value is in farmers. This must be done so that the welfare of the farmers community increases," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Perum Bulog Kediri Branch Office, Iman Mahdi, said that currently there is no rice harvest. From a number of observations he did, there are even some farmers who have just started planting, because they are waiting for water.

"The big harvest is possible to withdraw at the end of March or early April 2024. There is an increase in the price (rice). The premium is more than Rp. 14,000 per kilogram," he said.

Bulog Kediri, he said, participated in bringing rice to the Food Price Supply Stability program (SPHP) during market operations by the East Java Provincial Industry and Trade Office. Apart from rice, there are also chicken eggs, sugar, and cooking oil.

5 kilograms of SPHP rice sold for IDR 52,000, 1 liter of cooking oil IDR 13,000, 1 kilogram of sugar sold for IDR 14,000 and 1 kilogram chicken eggs sold for IDR 23,000.

His party considered the public interest to be quite good. Currently, the biggest demand is rice, but he ensures that the stock in the warehouse is still sufficient, namely 13 thousand tons.

In addition to the market operating program, SPHP rice is also given to residents in the rice food aid distribution program. The assistance is for the allocation from January to June 2024. Each beneficiary family receives as much as 10 kilograms of rice.