There Is A Relaxation Of HET, Badanas Pede Rice Prices Can Go Down Immediately

Rice (photo: Doc Antara)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said he was optimistic that rice prices could fall this month. This optimistic attitude was supported by the policy of relaxing the highest retail price (HET) of premium rice of IDR 1,000 per kilogram (kg).

Arief explained that before the premium rice HET relaxation policy, the price of unhulled rice was around Rp. 8,000 per kg. Meanwhile, the price of premium rice is Rp. 16,000 per kg.

"Our concern is to maintain HET at the farmer level as well as relax us from March 10 to 23. Later, March 24 can return to HET. So the price, God willing, and supply will be good," said Arief at the DPR Building, DPR RI Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, March 13.

Moreover, said Arief, from March to April this rice harvest season has entered. It is predicted that production will reach 3.5 million tons in March, and 4.9 million tons in April.

That way, Arief is optimistic about entering the harvest season and also after the HET relaxation policy, the price of rice will be better.

"If I look at the critical time yesterday in February. Where in January-February production vs consumption the difference is 2.8 million tons. So in March-April this should be a better price," he explained.

Even so, Arief ensured that the relaxation policy, aka the temporary increase in the HET of premium rice by Rp1,000 per kg, would not be extended.

Instead of being extended, Arief admitted that he received input from members of Commission IV of the DPR RI to review the policy.

"Not extended, instead, PR (homework) from Commission IV (DPR RI) was told to sit again for a review," said Arief.