Rice Prices Start To Fall, Bulog Boss: The Interventions We Do Start Effectively

Illustration: Photo: Doc. ANTARA

JAKARTA - Perum Bulog continues to control rice prices, although in a number of areas it has decreased significantly.

President Director of Perum Bulog, Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, said that his company will continue to ensure that rice inflation control measures run consistently.

The decline in the number of regions experiencing price increases as well as the expansion of the region with a downward trend in prices shows that the interventions we are doing are starting to be effective. We will continue to strengthen distribution, expand markets, and coordinate with various parties so that rice prices remain under control," he said in an official statement, Tuesday, September 9.

Based on the presentation from BPS, there are 100 districts/cities that have experienced an increase in rice prices.

This figure is decreasing when compared to the two weeks ago which was recorded at 214 regencies/cities.

On the other hand, the trend of price reduction is also widespread. From what previously only happened in 58 districts/cities, last week the decline in rice prices was recorded in 105 districts/cities.

Rizal said that in the past week, Bulog took strategic steps by expanding its sales network of Stableized Rice Supply and Food Prices (SPHP) to strategic markets, including those included in the recording of SP2KP panels belonging to the Ministry of Trade.

"This step is taken so that it is easier for people to get rice at affordable prices in key locations that affect the movement of the price index," he said.

In addition, Rizal continued, special attention was also given to 214 regencies/cities that previously experienced a rice price spike.

Bulog places these areas as a priority for intervention through the distribution of more massive SPHP rice, in order to reduce price fluctuations at the consumer level.

Rizal emphasized that control efforts are not carried out alone. Bulog actively coordinates with cross-ministerial / institutional levels, both at the central and regional levels, including the synergy of pentahelix in collaboration with the TNI and Polri, centimeters, modern retailers, retailers at traditional markets and KDMP (Merah Putih Village Cooperative).

"We emphasize that controlling food inflation, especially rice, is the result of joint work thanks to the coordination and synergy of Pentahelix. Bulog is only one of the important parts of the ecosystem," he said.