Governor Khofifah Monitors Market Operations in Pasuruan

PASURUAN - East Java Governor, Khofifah Indar Parawansa is monitoring the implementation of market operations in Pasar Besar, Pasuruan City, to ensure rice stocks and supplies meet the needs of the people in her area.

Khofifah said that this week East Java entered the harvest season and in March it will enter the rice harvest.

Because of this, his party asked all relevant parties, starting with rice distributors, the East Java Rice Milling Association (Perpadi), associations of rice distributors and traders, and Bulog to maximize rice distribution to the public.

"Thank God, these days East Java has actually entered the harvest season and so in early March it will enter the main harvest. The production is quite large, we hope this will be penetration so that our rice prices stabilize again", said Governor Khofifah who was accompanied by Deputy Mayor Pasuruan Adi Wibowo and the ranks of Forkopimda Pasuruan City during a review of market operations reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 15.

Khofifah said the prediction of rice production in the second week of February is around 40 thousand tons. Meanwhile, production predictions in the third week of February will be around 60 tons and around 70 thousand tons of rice in the fourth week of February.

Then, he continued, in March the rice harvest is predicted, with rice production of 1,050,000 tons of rice. Including, in April it is predicted that rice production will also be above one million tons of rice.

"This is all rice, not unhusked rice. Therefore, this week and next week I ask the distributors to help maximize the distribution. I hope Perpadi also maximizes the distribution. And, of course, from Bulog", she said.

Even though the main harvest is approaching, Khofifah emphasized that her party together with Bulog, the regency/municipality government, PT Jatim Graha Utama, Perpadi East Java, distributor associations and rice traders will continue to carry out market operations to stabilize rice prices in the market.

In Pasuruan City, a total of 18 tons of rice were distributed to traders and the public. Meanwhile, specifically for the Pasuruan City Big Market as much as 8 tons.

In this market operation, good quality medium rice is sold at IDR 43,000 per pack of 5 kilograms or IDR 8,600 per kilogram.

This price is far below the highest retail price (HET) for medium rice, IDR 9,450 per kilogram. Meanwhile, the price of medium rice sold at the Pasuruan City Market is currently around IDR 11,000 per kilogram.

Regarding market operations, Khofifah reiterated that what is currently needed is the packaging of 5 kilograms of rice, because from Bulog the packaging is 50 kilograms.

"Meanwhile, what we are distributing is 5-kilogram packaging. If we repackage it a lot, we can distribute it to consumers and traders even more", she said.

She emphasized that the circulation and distribution of rice these days must be accelerated because any delay will directly affect the price of rice.

"Yesterday, the price of medium rice in Pasuruan City reached IDR 11,000 per kilogram, whereas two days ago it was by the HET of IDR 9,450 per kilogram. So today we will reduce market operations for consumers and this afternoon for rice traders", she said.

Khofifah hopes that in all lines the price is by the HET and she thanks all parties for their support, especially the East Java Provincial Government.

"Moreover, today, February 15 is the first day we entered office four years ago after February 13 we were sworn in as Governor. Once again, thank you all for your support", she said.

In the same place, Rofiq, one of the basic food traders, admitted that several basic food commodities experienced price fluctuations.

One of them is rice, which a few days ago was still in the range of IDR 10,000-11,000 per kilogram, but has now reached IDR 12,000 per kilogram.

"Prices are currently fluctuating, especially for rice. There's nothing wrong with rising prices, the important thing is that the goods are available. As for eggs, and oil, the prices are still stable. Even though they have gone up, the numbers are not much, so people can still buy them", she said.

Another trader, Sofyah said that there was an increase of IDR 5,000 for shallots, where previously the price was IDR 55,000 per kilogram, and now it reaches IDR 60,000 per kilogram.

"Hopefully the price doesn't go up, it's a pity for us, the market traders are quiet selling", he said.

Based on data at the Pasar Besar City of Pasuruan on February 15 2023, it was observed that the price of premium rice was IDR 12,200 per kilogram, medium rice IDR 11,000 per kilogram, red onion IDR 25,000 per kilogram, sinco garlic IDR 22,000 per kilogram, cayenne pepper IDR 60,000 per kilogram, large red chilli IDR 35,000 per kilogram.

Furthermore, for Minyakita cooking oil IDR 16,000 per litre, bulk cooking oil IDR 16,000 kilograms, eggs IDR 27,000 kilograms, sugar IDR 13,000 kilograms, chicken meat IDR 32,000 kilograms, and beef IDR 120,000 per kilogram.