New Food Strategy
The government finally imported rice amid differences in national-reserve data. At the consumer level, rice prices have also increased.
Rice buying and selling activities at the Kebayoran Lama Market, South Jakarta, Monday (5/12/2022).
The decision to import rice was taken amid differences in data between the Agriculture Ministry and the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and the National Food Agency (BPN). The Agriculture Ministry believed that rice stocks were sufficient. The stock in mills in 24 provinces totals 610,632 tonnes, with a price range of Rp 9,359 (US$0.60) to Rp 11,700 per kilogram.
This price does not meet the standard agreed between Bulog and BPN, namely a maximum of Rp 10,200 on the grounds of preventing inflation. According to data from the Statistics Indonesia (BPS), rice has been a source of inflation in the last five months. Imports are intended to increase the government's rice reserves and discourage rice speculators from raising prices.