By : Joanna Alexandra Putri )*
The measurable strategy implemented by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) in stabilizing the price of rice in the market means that farmers also benefit, because there is a price agreement and a good balance between the needs of local farmers in the country and prices that can be afforded by the general public. as a consumer.
Head of the National Food Agency (NFA), Arief Prasetyo Adi, said that so far the government has continued to intensify various measurable strategies in order to try to control the price of rice on the market so that people’s purchasing power for their food needs is maintained.
One way is to import rice in a measured manner, which will not have an impact on falling prices for rice or dry harvested grain at the level of local farmers in the country. Of course, it is not without reason that this can happen, because imported rice is only done to guarantee stock, and is not easily and carelessly sold freely on the market.
During the visit of the delegation from Thailand to come directly to the Cipinang Rice Main Market, no rice from Thailand was found at all because it was tightly locked in the Bulog warehouse and would only be used if the situation required it, or if an intervention was needed that was necessary.
Based on data from the Logistics Agency (Bulog) as of September 11 2023, the realization of the rice import assignment of 2 million tonnes for 2023 has reached 1.55 million tonnes with the remaining assignment of 453 thousand tonnes currently on the way.
On the other hand, the Indonesian government certainly does not just rely on efforts to import rice, because this will only be used when times are critical. However, the effort put forward is to procure rice from local farmers in the country itself.
It is known that rice procurement from local farmers in the country has reached 819,575 tons. Then the Government itself continues to strive to maintain price stability and also rice stocks by deploying rice market operations or Stabilization of Food Supply and Prices (SPHP) in several traditional markets and modern retailers.
Most recently, Bapanas together with Bulog have just launched SPHP rice with packages of up to 50 kg at the Cipinang Rice Main Market (PIBC), then later traders at the main market will sell their rice to retailers at a price of 10,900 Rupiah per kg.
A Task Force (Food Task Force) has also been formed and deployed, so that it is able to ensure that the end result of providing aid even for 1 grain of rice, all of them must be able to know who their downline is and this has become a strong commitment from the Indonesian government. together with all other related parties including distributors and agents.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan claims that currently the price of rice has not increased. In fact, in some places prices have started to drop again. Apart from that, he also stated to the public that if people want rice at an affordable price, then they can buy rice directly from Bulog at a retail price of 10,900 Rupiah per kg.
The rice managed by Bulog, or it could also be said that rice from the Indonesian Government is in no way inferior to the quality of rice in general, because the Government continues to strive not only to provide affordable prices and be accessible to all levels of society, but also continues to pay attention to the quality. given rice.
Bapanas then stated that the adjustment of the upper limit price for rice in market operations, called Stabilization of Supply and Market Prices (SPHP), namely 10,900 Rupiah per kg starting September 1 2023, was used to further increase the enthusiasm of farmers in growing rice.
Based on direct directions given by the Head of State, the Indonesian Government immediately adjusted the price of rice. In this way, it is hoped that farmers will become more enthusiastic. Even though there is a price adjustment for rice which is the government’s rice reserve (CBP), Bapanas also emphasized that they had studied in advance what impacts it could have, including inflation.
For this reason, considerations between the price from farmers and the price of rice that reaches consumers must be maintained properly. Director of Bulog, Budi Waseso, emphasized that from the beginning of 2023 until now, his party has distributed up to 756 thousand tons of SPHP rice throughout Indonesia through retailers and various modern retailers.
In other words, all the efforts made by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia are not only concerned with the people and consumers, but also continue to consider the needs of farmers, so that the strategic and measurable policies implemented continue to benefit local farmers in the country.
)* The author is a Jeka Media Institute Contributor
