Assessing the Rice Policy

The revocation of the 2017 Trade Ministerial Regulation No. 47, which regulates the maximum retail price of rice, deserves appreciation.

The regulation —withdrawn while still in the process of legalization at the Justice and Human Rights Ministry— once sparked controversy because it was to regulate all types of rice quality using one price and apply equally throughout Indonesia.

We appreciate the decision of the trade minister to revoke the regulation because, on one hand, it shows the government is willing to explore different ideas and listen to input of the people. On the other hand, the revocation also shows the government does not understood the basic problem of rice.