Head Of Badanas: HET Relaxation To Guarantee Availability Of Rice Stock

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said the policy of relaxing the highest retail price (HET) of premium rice was intended to ensure the availability of rice stocks in the market.

"The price is still in a relaxation position, from the previous figure HET of Rp. 13,900 (per kilogram) then relaxation until the 23rd (March) is Rp. 14,900 (per kilogram) to provide space so that this rice has better availability," said Arief as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 18.

In order to secure rice stocks, he said, the government prioritizes domestic production.

"In fact, we are preparing for this March-April harvest because the current price of unhulled rice has started to correct the figure, the national average is around Rp. 6,700 (per kilogram). If the price rate is corrected, it means that the price of rice will automatically be corrected with the production record, it must be like a planning," said Arief.

Previously, the government through Bapanas decided to implement a premium rice HET relaxation which was temporarily enforced from March 10 to March 23, 2024.

The premium rice HET relaxation, which is currently being implemented, targets eight regions.

HET is adjusted to the difference of more than Rp1,000 per kilogram compared to the previous HET.

The relaxation of rice prices is the government's policy to temporarily increase the HET of premium rice, which aims to maintain supply stability and premium rice prices in traditional markets and modern retail during Ramadan and ahead of Eid.

President Jokowi also admitted that the government is facing a dilemma in maintaining the balance of rice prices, because farmers demand high prices to increase their profits, while consumers need affordable prices.

This explanation, he conveyed when distributing government rice reserves food assistance to beneficiary families (KPM) at the Bulog Bakaran Batu Warehouse Complex, Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra, last week.

"We are difficult, if the price of rice goes down, I will be scolded by farmers, but if the rice goes up, I will be scolded by mothers," said Jokowi in a written statement from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia.

President Jokowi revealed that the government's business in managing food for 270 million Indonesians is not an easy thing.

He said there were challenges in rice production to meet the annual needs of 31 million tons, including climate conditions.