Rice Stock Safe and Prices Fall 11 Percent, Govt Says

Although it is still the dry season, the rice stock in Jakarta is quite safe. Even, prices have also started to decline by up to 11 percent.

Rice stocks are safe

The statement above was conveyed when the BUMN Minister, Eric Tohir visited the Cipinang Rice Main Market, East Jakarta on Wednesday (10/4), together with Bulog Head, Budi Wasesa, National Food Agency Head, Arief Prasetyo Adi, Jakarta Economic Assistant, Sri Haryati, and other related officials.

BUMN Minister, Eric Tohir admitted that in recent weeks, he was tasked by President Jokowi to ensure that rice stocks were safe and under control.

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Thus far, food prices in the world have been recorded at the highest in the last 7 years, including rice, oil, corn gasoline, and so forth. Therefore, he together with Bulog, the National Food Agency, regional governments, and all those involved carried out checks.

"Rice stocks are safe. In Bulog, there are 1.7 million tons of rice and two million tons until November. It is also driven by rice production from farmers, we buy everything to ensure safe stocks," he explained.

He asserted that his party was trying to continuously supply rice in all markets, thus prices remained stable.

"If domestic production is good, Indonesia won't import rice from abroad," he concluded.

Jakarta Economic Assistant, Sri Haryati added the stock of rice needs in Jakarta was getting better day by day. Even today, up to 31,000 tons of the target 35,000 tons of rice supply from Bulog has entered the Cipinang Rice Main Market.

According to her, her party was also monitoring its development and distribution, including in the derivatives market spread across 196 points.

"The Jakarta Government has a responsibility and contributes to controlling inflation at the national level. Jakarta's contribution is around 27 percent nationally and inflation in Jakarta is 1.89 percent, compared to the national at 2.8 percent. So, in Jakarta, it is still on the track," she explained.

Over the past seven years, there has indeed been the highest increase in rice prices in the world. Thus, the central government together with the Jakarta Government should monitor what the national production is and what the people's needs are.

By supplying a lot of rice to Jakarta, the price was graphically decreasing.

"I urge the public to remain calm, as there is quite a lot of rice in the warehouses," she asserted.

PT Food Station Tjipinang Jaya Director, Pam Rihadi Wiraryo uttered that the availability of rice compared to two weeks ago had raised from 24,000 tons to more than 31,000 tons. Prices had also indicated a significant decline, around 11 percent, from Rp 12,600 two weeks ago to Rp 11,158 per kilogram.

"Prices have decreased, as there is a supply from Bulog of SPHP rice and supplies from several regions. The rice supply entering the Cipinang Main Market every day is 2,500 to 3,000 tons," he stated.