Jokowi Calls The Price Of Rice In RI Mahal Triggered By The Price Of The FOB Scheme

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) gave a press statement after visiting the Bulog warehouse in Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, Thursday (26/9/2024). ANTARA/Mentari Dwi Gayati

PASER - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has spoken about the price of rice in Indonesia which is considered expensive. Jokowi said it was triggered by the price of imported rice which was calculated under the "free on board" or FOB scheme.

President Jokowi's statement responded to the assumption that the price of rice in Indonesia was more expensive than the price of rice in ASEAN member countries.

"Let's see how much FOB rice costs, approximately 530 to 600 US dollars plus cost frequencies, around 40 US (dollars), try to calculate. If you want to compare it, it should be consumers. That will be visible," said President Jokowi, after reviewing the warehouse of Bulog Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, reported by ANTARA, Thursday, September 26.

The President assessed that the price of imported rice with the FOB scheme was quite expensive, namely 530-600 US dollars per ton or around Rp. 8 million to Rp. 9 million per ton.

Then, there is also the cost of shipping goods by sea or "cost freight" that must be paid by Indonesia as a rice importer, which is 40 US dollars per ton or around Rp600 thousand per ton.

From this presentation, it can be calculated that the price of imported rice will be IDR 8.6 million to IDR 9.6 million per ton or around IDR 8,600 to IDR 9,600 per kg.

Meanwhile, talking about farmers' income which is considered low by the World Bank, the President emphasized that the selling price of farmers is influenced by the price of rice or dry rice harvest, if there is no distortion in the field.

Currently, the National Food Agency (Bapanas) is keeping the price of dry rice harvested at the farmer level at the level of Rp. 6,000 per kg, so that farmers continue to make a profit and on the other hand, rice prices at the consumer level are still under control.

"Check in farmers how much grain costs. In the past, Rp4,200 (per kg) was now Rp6,000 (per kg). That's unhulled rice, not rice, from there it was seen that NTP was also checked in the field," said President Jokowi.