Coordinating Minister Zulhas Disbursed The Cause Of The Translucent Rice Price Of IDR 15,000 Per Kg

Rice prices (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, acknowledged that there was an increase in rice prices. Currently, he said, the price of rice in minimarkets could touch IDR 15,000 per kilogram (kg).

"If you buy it at a minimarket, it can be Rp. 15,000, it can be Rp. 15,500," he said at the Indonesia Summit 2025 at The Tribarata, Dharmawangsa, Jakarta, Thursday, August 28.

Zulhas, as he is familiarly called, said that this price increase was caused by the determination of the purchase price of the government (HPP) of unhulled rice to Rp6,500 per kilogram (kg).

The HPP determination is contained in the Decree of the Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Number 2 of 2025 concerning Amendments to the Purchase Price of Government and Rice Price Rate, which has been in effect since January 15, 2025.

"We have decided that the price of unhulled rice will go up, the presidential decree will go out, the price of unhulled rice will be Rp. 6,500. If the grain is Rp. 6,500, the consequence is that the price of rice will definitely increase. Because 1 kg of rice is almost 2 kg of unhulled rice. Rp. 6,500 multiplied by 2, Rp. 13,000," said Zulhas.

Zulhas said that in anticipation of weakening purchasing power due to the increase in rice prices, the government also poured 1.3 million tons of government rice reserves (CBP) through the Food Supply and Price Stabilization program (SPHP).

However, Zulhas emphasized that the cheap rice subsidized by the government is aimed at people with vulnerable income.

"It was spent 1.3 million to enter traditional markets, the selling price was Rp12,500. But the government bought more than Rp13,000, selling Rp12,500, now that's the subsidy government. But that's to enter the market, for friends who have vulnerable income, "he said.