Rice Prices Rise, Surakarta City Government Holds Market Operations

Illustration - Rice sold by Legi Solo Market, Central Java, Wednesday (6/9/2023). BETWEEN/Aris Wasita

SOLO - The Surakarta City Government held a market operation in response to the increase in rice prices that have occurred in recent times.

Head of the Surakarta City Trade Office, Heru Sunardi, said that currently there is an increase in rice prices, both medium and premium quality.

"Yesterday we together with Bulog and the Food Security Service carried out market operations in each village," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 6.

He said that at this activity each consumer could buy a maximum of two bags with each bag containing 5 kg of rice. The implementation of market operations is scheduled for 30 urban villages from August 8-28 November 2023.

Regarding the price of rice, he admitted, there has been an increase since September 1. Even the price of premium quality rice has now touched Rp. 15,000/kg.

Prior to the increase, the price of premium rice was in the range of Rp. 12,000-13,000/kg. Meanwhile, for medium quality rice, the highest retail price (HET) has risen to Rp. 10,900/kg from the previous Rp. 9,450/kg.

"In the past, at the HET retail level, it was still Rp. 9,450/kg, now it is Rp. 10,900/kg. That is indeed a central policy," he said.

Meanwhile, although rice is currently increasing, he said, rice stocks are still in a safe condition. He said that currently the rice reserves in Bulog's warehouse are still around 19,000 tons.

"This is safe until the end of the year. Bulog will also buy farmers' unhulled rice during the planting period III," he said.