Heat Make Sure The HPP Of Harvested Dry Grains At The Farmers' Level Don't Drop During The Grand Panen Period

The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) together with the Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi ensured that he would maintain the purchase price of the government (HPP) for dry harvest unhulled rice (GKP) at the farmer level so that it did not drop drastically during the harvest season.

"There are already a lot of Harvests. In March 3.8 million tons, this April the total (vening predictions) nationally is 4.9 million tons, so our focus is on maintaining the price of farmers," said Arief in a statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Thursday, April 4.

Arief conveyed this after accompanying President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) while reviewing food stocks and handing over 10 kg rice food assistance to beneficiaries at the Manggis Bulog Warehouse Complex, Bungo Regency, Jambi Province.

Arief said that one of the steps taken by the National Food Agency to maintain the price of unhulled rice at the farmer level was to impose flexibility on Perum Bulog for the HPP of harvested dry unhulled rice to Rp6,000 per kilogram (kg) from the previous Rp5,000 per kg.

Arief continued that this was in accordance with President Joko Widodo's direction to always remind that during the rice harvest, prices at the farmer level should not fall, so the government is here to ensure that the Bulog Corporation which has been assigned to absorb domestic production as a government rice reserve stock (CBP).

"As of yesterday (Wednesday 3/4) we have given a policy of flexibility in the purchase price of grain and rice. With that, Bulog can carry out its role to absorb the yields of our farmers and on the other hand the price of farmers can be maintained," explained Arief.

Arief hopes that with the flexibility of the purchase price of unhulled rice which will take effect from April 3 to June 30, 2024, it can become a safety net for grain and rice producers, so that prices do not fall too far at the time of the harvest.

In addition, it can increase the stock of CBP (government rice reserves) originating from domestic production.

Badanas also appealed to the public to be calm and not panic buying ahead of the National Religious Holiday (HBKN) Idul Fitri 1445 Hijriah, because the stock of basic food commodities is guaranteed to be safe.

"Business is in accordance with needs only because our food reserves are very sufficient, especially for Lebaran later," said Arief.