DIY Ensures Rice Reserves Are Safe Even Though Prices In The Market Soar

Illustration - Rice sold in the market. BETWEEN/Aditya Pradana Putra.

YOGYAKARTA - The Department of Agriculture and Food Security (DPKP) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta ensures that rice reserves in this province are still sufficient for the community until the end of the year despite the increase in commodity prices in the market.

Head of DPKP DPKP Food Security Division DIY Bambang Dwi Witjaksono said the rice reserves managed with PT Taru Martani as a regionally owned enterprise (BUMD) currently reach 305 tons.

"There are now 305 tons of volume and each district also has its own reserves," said Bambang as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 13.

The procurement of government rice reserves, he said, had been carried out in April 2023 and was expected to take place again in the October-November 2023 harvest season. "Until the end of the year, hopefully, rice reserves can still be maintained," he said.

To help reduce rice prices in the market, which currently has touched Rp. 13,000 per kilogram (kg), DPKP DIY distributes these rice reserves through market operations and low-cost markets by cooperating with distributors.

In addition to reducing rice prices, the distribution of food also functions to maintain the quality of rice reserves.

"There must be a rice stock of 25 percent, while 75 percent is rotated to maintain quality," he said.

By directly targeting the public or consumers, medium rice is sold for IDR 10,900 per kg according to the highest retail price (HET) along with other commodities such as chicken eggs, shallots, and cooking oil.

The market or low-cost market operations are held on average two to three times a month in urban villages or a number of other strategic places in synergy with district/city governments.

"We have planned the frequency a year ago. It will continue according to the plan," said Bambang.

Facing the surge in rice prices in the market, he asked the public not to panic by avoiding wholesale action. "There is no need to panic because in reality our rice reserves are still sufficient. We also ask traders to take sufficient advantage," he said.

According to Bambang, the long dry season due to the impact of El Nino has been anticipated by farmers so that it does not affect the volume of rice reserves in DIY.

Head of DPKP DPKP DPKP DIY Andi Nawa Candra said there were no reports of agricultural land in DIY experiencing drought ranging from mild, moderate, severe, or puso categories or crop failure.

A number of districts in DIY are actually entering the harvest season, from rice plants to various crops.

Andi said the rice harvest area in Sleman, Bantul, and Kulon Progo Regencies was still recorded at 28,743 hectares during the June-July 2023 period, while the total since January 2023 rice harvest in DIY has reached 124,540 hectares.

The Functional Officer for the Young Trade Supervisory of the DIY Trade Office (Disperindag) Sabar Santoso said that based on observations in four markets in Yogyakarta City on September 13, 2023, the average medium rice price for IR I still reached Rp. 13,525 per kg, for IR II an average of Rp. 12,875 per kg, while premium rice reached Rp. 14,550 per kg.