Domestic Rice Prices Skyrocket, This Is Jokowi's Reason

President Jokowi when distributing government rice assistance to beneficiary communities at Sahe Purwakarta Field, Thursday, November 9, 2023. (doc BPMI Setpres)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) gave an explanation to the public regarding the reason why rice prices in the domestic market skyrocketed. The head of state mentioned the reason for climate change so that some other countries also experienced the same thing.

"Why is the price of rice rising? Because there is a change in the season, there is El Nino, and it has been experienced not only our country, but also other countries have experienced the same thing," said President Jokowi to representatives of Beneficiary Families (KPM) at Bulog Batangase Warehouse, Maros Regency, South Sulawesi (Sulsel), Thursday, February 33, confiscated by Antara.

The Head of State emphasized that during the provision of food assistance for Government Rice Reserves (CBP) in the first phase to a thousand KPM residents in Maros during their working visit to the local Bulog Batangase warehouse, it was a form of serious government attention to the community.

In addition, by giving 10 kilos of rice per month for the next six months to KPM, of course reducing the burden on the community amidst the increase in rice prices in the impact market from El Nino and climate change.

"Only in other countries are not given 10 kilos per buying, our people are given 10 kilos every month, the difference is that. Rice prices around the world go up," said Jokowi in front of the recipients who were greeted with applause.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta said that the government had started distributing CBP food assistance for the first phase throughout Indonesia to KPM, including in Maros Regency, weighing 10 kilograms per month.

"Ladies and gentlemen, have you received 10 kilos of rice? January, we have received it, in February we will receive it again, which will not be received yet. April will receive it again, May will receive it again and June will receive it again, which does not agree to appoint a finger," he said greeting the representative who received the assistance in the Bulog warehouse area.

The President emphasized that the provision of food assistance will start in January 202 and will continue until June 2024. However, in July, the capacity of the state budget (APBN) will be seen again.

"Later, after June I will see the APBN first. If it's enough, but I don't promise," Jokowi told the recipient while smiling.

The former mayor of Solo had asked the recipients of the assistance at the place whether the CBP assistance for two months, namely January and February, had been received, and as well as Direct Cash Assistance (BLT), had anyone also received it here, residents answered that there were already those who received it and there was an answer not.

"There are those who receive BLT who don't, because not all of them. However, soon they will be out of BLT in the amount of Rp. 200 thousand, Rp. 200 thousand, Rp. 200 thousand (Rp. 600), but I don't know here, ladies and gentlemen, I don't know, "said the president when interacting with the beneficiary residents.

Jokowi said the government also provided assistance to BLT as many as 22 million recipients, because the assistance provided was different from 10 kilograms of rice with BLT recipients. Sometimes some are the same and sometimes not the same for those who deserve to be given 10 kilos with BLT.

President Jokowi during a working visit in South Sulawesi accompanied by the President Director of Perum Bulog Bayu Krisnamurthi, Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Acting Governor of South Sulawesi Bahtiar Bahharuddin, Regent Maros Andi Syafril Chaidir Syam and other relevant officials.