Jokowi Calls Rice And Chili Prices After The New Year Tend To Drop

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) when delivering a statement to reporters on the sidelines of a working visit to Purworejo Traditional Market, Central Java, Tuesday (2/1/2024). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the increase in the price of red cayenne pepper in traditional markets was again controlled by a reasonable price of Rp. 70 thousand per kilogram after the celebration of Christmas and New Year 2024. President Jokowi said that the price of rice which is now affected by the global change in the Super El Nino climate has been controlled thanks to the implementation of the national rice reserve strategy. "I see that prices, especially those yesterday rose very high, cayenne pepper up to Rp120 thousand, I see the last in Jakarta. Now it has dropped here to Rp70 thousand. I think it is good, cayenne pepper has dropped to Rp70 thousand," said President Jokowi while reviewing food prices at the Purworejo Traditional Market, Central Java, Tuesday, January 2. President Jokowi also checked the price of rice which is currently being affected by the changing climate of Super El Nino to make 22 countries in the world stop export their rice to various countries. "This is in the world. Because first there is a change in the Super El Nino climate, 22 countries have stopped exporting rice, so that there is a shock of rice prices, food prices in the world, all countries experience," said President Jokowi. President Jokowi ensured that the situation of rising rice prices in Indonesia was not as dramatic as happened in other countries, thanks to the supply control strategy at the warehouse of the Logistics Affairs Agency (Bulog) in various regions. Until the end of 2023 President Jokowi reported that the national rice reserves were at 1.4 million tons and that amount would be added again through the purchase of rice imports from a number of countries. President Jokowi ensured that national rice reserves in 2024 would be at a safe level, although the harvest situation in various rice-producing regions is expected to be slightly delayed from the annual cycle. "We can control because Bulog's stock is currently also very good," said President Jokowi.

Previously on the Outlook agenda of the Indonesian Economy in Jakarta, Friday, December 22, President Jokowi said that Indonesia would obtain rice imports from India and Thailand, as much as 3 million tons to strengthen national food reserves in 2024 amid the influence of Super El Nino's weather. Indonesia's rice import quota agreement from India is 1 million tons, plus from Thailand 2 million tons, it is believed that President Jokowi will provide a sense of security for national food affairs in 2024.