Head Of Badanas: Corrected Rice Price Is IDR 2,000, Per Kg Is IDR 14,000

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said that the price of rice in the market began to fall to Rp. 14,000 per kilogram (kg) after the price of dry rice harvest (GKP) at the farmer level or on the upstream side also fell.

"So today with a grain price of Rp. 7,040 per kg, the rice will automatically be corrected at around Rp. 2,000. So, the price is around Rp. 14,000 per kg," said Arif as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 4.

Arief said that currently the price of GKP has started to fall from the previous Rp. 8,000 per kg, now nationally the average price is Rp. 7,040 per kg.

He believes that if the price of the unhulled rice has dropped, the price of rice will also be significantly corrected.

According to Arief, rice was expensive because of the increase in GKP prices which also increased.

Usually, the simple way to calculate rice prices is to double the price of GKP.

"We always say that it is easy to calculate it, if the price is Rp. 8,000 or Rp. 9,000 per kg, it means that the price of rice is only two times, so Rp. 16,000 or Rp. 18,000 per kg," explained Arief.

According to Arief, the decline in GKP prices and rice prices in the market after entering the main harvest season in March-April which is predicted to reach 3.5 million tons.

The price will begin to be corrected in line with the harvest, which amounts to approximately 3-3.5 million tons from our needs of 2.5-2.6 million tons. Harvest in Lamongan, Tuban Bojonegoro, Sragen, Ngawi, Demak Grobogan, Lampung, South Sumatra," said Arief.

Arief also thanked all stakeholders in the food sector who continue to synergize in keeping the atmosphere conducive, especially for national relations.

"In the Plenary Cabinet Session, which was also attended by the Minister of Home Affairs, ministers and heads of related institutions, the President (Joko Widodo) gave directions and assigned us to really pay attention to food availability and price stabilization," added Arief.

The National Food Agency held a coordination meeting with across ministries and institutions as well as entrepreneurs in the food sector to create affordable food for the community ahead of the Idul Fitri 1445 Hijri HBKN.

The hybrid meeting was chaired directly by the Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian and attended by a number of representatives from the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of SOEs, the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, the Head of Bulog, the Head of BPS, the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Police, the Governor of BI, the Ombudsman, governors and regents/mayors throughout Indonesia, a number of entrepreneurs and associations in the food sector and other related parties.