Badanas Boss Accompanies Jokowi's Permit To Extend The Increase In Premium Rice HET Until April 2024

Head of Badanas Arief Prasetyo Adi (Photo: Badanas)

JAKARTA - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has extended the increase in premium rice retail prices (HET) from Rp13,900 per kg to Rp14,900 per kg until April 2024.

Head of Badanas Arief Prasetyo Adi said this extension was valid for 1 month. "Starting March 24, 2024," he told VOI, Tuesday, March 19.

Not long after, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has agreed to relax the HET with an increase in rice prices of Rp1,000 per kg being extended for the next month.

"Bapanas told the President that the previous premium rice price relaxation (Rp) of 13,900 to (Rp) 14,900 we asked for permission and agreed to be extended for one month so that stocks in the market, especially modern markets and outlets are maintained," said Arief when giving a press statement quoting Antara.

Arief explained that the previous HET premium rice relaxation had been temporarily enforced from March 10 to March 23, 2024.

According to Arief, the relaxation of the premium rice HET is extended to keep rice stocks available in the market, both modern retail markets and traditional markets.

The extension of this policy is also carried out to wait for the decline in the price of harvested dry unhulled rice (GKP) ahead of the main harvest in March and April.

"Until March 24, we will extend it again, from the next 24 (April), because the rice is still in the market, while adjusting the GKP to go down," said Arief.

Previously, Bapanas stated that the temporary relaxation of the highest retail price (HET) of premium rice was implemented to maintain supply stability and prices at the consumer level during Ramadan 1445 Hijri.

In Java, Lampung, and South Sumatra, the premium rice HET relaxation was applied to Rp14,900 per kg from the previous HET at Rp13,900 per kg.