Premium Price Still High, Trade Minister Zulhas: There Is Still Bulog Rice That Costs IDR 11,000 Per Kilogram

Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan said that local premium rice is still expensive. However, the government provides an alternative, namely rice market operations from Perum Bulog.

"Rice is indeed the local rice, the price is still high. But there is an alternative, there is rice from Bulog which is Rp. 11,000 per kg or Rp. 14,000 per kg," he said at Kramat Jati Market, East Jakarta, Friday, March 15.

Zulhas, as Zulkifli Hasan is familiarly called, said that the price of premium rice is still high in the market because the supply is still limited due to the postponement of the planting and harvest period.

"Rice is indeed local rice because the main harvest has not yet dropped (the price). The price is still high," he said.

"Because the planting season has shifted, the harvest will shift next month, then the harvest will be a bit much, in April the harvest will be big," he continued.

Previously, the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan found that the price of local premium rice was still expensive at Kramat Jati Market, East Jakarta. In fact, it reaches around Rp. 16,000 to Rp. 19,000 per kilogram (kg).

Based on observations at the location, the man who is familiarly called Zulhas visited one of the rice shops. He also interacted with the seller to find out how much rice is currently priced in the market.

Rice traders say that the price of premium rice measuring 5kg is priced at IDR 95,000 per kilogram. This means that the price reaches IDR 19,000 per kilogram.

"I sell this Rp90,000, now Rp95,000 (5 kg packaged rice). This is Rp16,000 per kg (pointing for the rice on display)," said the rice trader to Zulhas, at Kramat Jati Market, East Jakarta, Friday, March 15.

Zulhas also asked whether the premium rice sold by the traders came from within the country.

"What is the brand? It's local, right?" asked Zulhas.

"Idola sir, yes local," replied the merchant.