People Scream Expensive Rice Prices, Trade Minister Zulhas: International Too High

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan said that the current high price of rice does not only occur in Indonesia. He said the price of rice at the international level was also high.

"The high price of rice does not only occur in Indonesia but the international average price is also high stable," he said during a working meeting with Commission VI of the DPR, at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, March 13.

Zulhas, as Zulkifli Hasan is familiarly called, revealed that there are several factors that cause rice prices to soar. First, because of the export bans imposed by the Indian government.

India's export ban is also a trigger. Thai rice as of February 2024, USD 610 per ton, up 32 percent from the same period last year," he explained.

Then, continued Zulhas, the price of rice was also high due to the impact of the elnino phenomenon which caused a shift in the harvest season.

"So we should have done the main harvest in January-February, this is the main harvest back. It's about now but it hasn't been harvested in April and May," he said.

Based on data presented by Zulhas, rice production in January-March 2024 was lower by around 2.82 million tons compared to the same period last year.

"As a result, the price of unhulled rice rose to reach Rp. 8,000-Rp. 9,000 per kg in mills," he said.

Untuk mengantisipasi harga beras semakin naik, Zulhas pun mengatakan pemerintah melakukan percepatan realisasi impor untuk penguatan stok CBP menjelang hari besar keagamaan nasional (HBKN).

"And intensive supervision through monitoring rice stocks in mills, distributors and modern retailers," he said.