Head Of Badanas: Premium Rice HET Relaxation Extended Not To Press Prices In The Market

Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said that the relaxation of the highest retail price (HET) for premium rice of Rp1,000 per kilogram (kg) was extended not to suppress the high price of rice in the current market.

As is known, the Government through Bapanas decided to continue the policy of relaxing the premium rice HET of IDR 1,000 per kilogram (kg) from March 24 to April 24, 2024.

"The relaxation is not to reduce prices. But to maintain availability," said Arief when contacted by VOI, in Jakarta, Thursday, March 21.

Based on the reports received, Arief said that when in some areas many had started to enter the harvest season. Observed, the local price of Demak rice is Rp. 12,000 per kg, local Karawang rice is Rp. 12,500 per kg. Meanwhile, local premium rice is Rp. 14,000 per kg.

Arief also received reports from the Aceh and Medan markets. He said, the stock of rice is large, the price is strong, and the quality is good.

"Today, Aceh rice is quiet, below 10 trucks, we disband at 4 pm the price is around Rp. 11,900 to Rp. 12,000. This is a report from friends," he said.

Previously it was reported, Arief said that the HET relaxation of premium rice was extended to maintain premium rice stocks in the market. This relaxation is also continued while waiting for the price of harvested dry unhulled rice (GKP) to fall.

"Because the rice is still in the market, while adjusting the GKP to go down," he said.

The premium rice HET relaxation currently targets eight zones. HET is adjusted to a difference of more than Rp1,000 per kg compared to the previous HET.

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.

Then the areas of Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Bengkulu, Riau, Riau Islands, Jambi, and Bangka Belitung Islands, the premium rice HET relaxation was enforced at IDR 15,400 per kg from the previous HET of IDR 14,400 per kg.

For the Bali and Nusa Tenggara regions, the relaxation of the premium rice HET is at Rp. 15,400 per kg from the previous HET of Rp. 14,400 per kg.

This also applies in the East Nusa Tenggara region with a premium HET relaxation of Rp. 15,400 per kg from the previous HET of Rp. 14,400 per kg.

Meanwhile, for the Sulawesi region, the relaxation of the premium rice HET was Rp. 14,900 per kg from the previous HET of Rp. 13,900 per kg.

For the Kalimantan region, the relaxation of the premium rice HET was Rp. 15,400 per kg from the previous HET of Rp. 14,400 per kg.

Finally, for the Maluku region, the relaxation of the premium rice HET to Rp15,800 per kg compared to the previous HET was Rp14,800 per kg. The relaxation of the premium rice HET for the Papua region is exactly the same as the Maluku region.