Jakarta (ANTARA) - Daniel Johan, a member of Commission IV of the\nIndonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), is urging the government\nto maintain a balance in rice prices so that farmers obtain a decent\nprofit and the public can continue to purchase rice at affordable\nprices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe request that food stabilisation be built sustainably by\nmaintaining price equilibrium at both the producer and consumer levels,\u201d\nDaniel confirmed in Jakarta on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he appreciated the stabilisation and food intervention\nmeasures undertaken by the National Food Agency (Bapanas), including the\npolicy to add an additional allocation of 1 million tonnes of rice under\nthe Food Supply and Price Stabilisation (SPHP) programme to strengthen\navailability and maintain food affordability for the public.<\/p>\n
According to him, these various stabilisation instruments have had a\npositive impact on maintaining supply while helping to reduce pressure\non public expenditure.<\/p>\n
However, he reminded that food stabilisation must also be built\nsustainably by maintaining the balance of prices at the producer and\nconsumer levels.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stabilisation and intervention programmes carried out by\nBapaney, including the additional 1 million tonnes, are very good. The\nprogramme helps ease the burden on the community,\u201d said Daniel.<\/p>\n
Previously, he conducted a working visit alongside Commission IV of\nthe DPR RI and officials from Bapanas to the Cipinang Rice Wholesale\nMarket (PIBC) in Jakarta on Friday (2\/10).<\/p>\n
He stated that the government needs to continue strengthening medium-\nand long-term stabilisation policies so that the resulting prices\ncontinue to provide adequate incentives for farmers, while remaining\naffordable for the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut beyond that 1 million tonnes, we must also consider further\nmeasures. What we must consider is how to stabilise prices at the farmer\nlevel, as well as at the consumer level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
It is noted that the SPHP rice assignment, which previously totalled\n828,000 tonnes, was 100 per cent distributed by 23 September 2026.<\/p>\n
Consequently, the government decided to increase the SPHP rice\nallocation to 1 million tonnes based on a directive from President\nPrabowo Subianto via a letter from the Minister of State Secretary dated\n28 September 2026.<\/p>\n
At the beginning of October, Bapanas issued an additional assignment\nfor the SPHP rice programme to Perum Bulog for 74.18 thousand tonnes,\nequivalent to 14.83 million 5kg SPHP rice packages.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Deputy for Food Availability and Stabilisation at\nBapanas, Hermawan, emphasised that the current national rice condition\nis secure and the government continues to ensure adequate supply moving\nforward.<\/p>\n
This is evident from direct monitoring of rice supply and trade\nconditions at the Cipinatively Rice Wholesale Market, which serves as an\nimportant barometer for rice, particularly for the Jakarta area and its\nsurroundings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government continues to monitor supply, stocks, and prices to\nensure the needs of the community are met,\u201d said Hermawan.<\/p>\n
He stated that the government is not only focused on national stock\nadequacy but also ensuring that distribution runs smoothly and supply is\navailable evenly down to the consumer level.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we are guarding is not just how large the available stock is,\nbut how that stock can move and reach the community at the right time,\nlocation, quantity, quality, and price,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
According to Hermawan, Bapanas, along with relevant ministries,\nagencies, Perum Bulog, local governments, business actors, and the Food\nTask Force, continues to strengthen coordination in maintaining rice\nstability from upstream to downstream.<\/p>\n
Various government instruments, including Food Supply and Price\nStabilisation, food assistance, management of Government Rice Reserves,\nCheap Food Movements, and periodic monitoring of prices and supply,\ncontinue to be optimised according to needs and field developments.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn principle, the government is guarding two interests in balance.\nFarmers must obtain a fair price to provide incentives to continue\nproducing, while the public must also obtain rice at an affordable\nprice. This is the balance we continue to maintain,\u201d said Hermawan.<\/p>\n
He emphasised that the government will continue to ensure rice\navailability and strengthen various stabilisation instruments so that\nthe public does not need to worry about meeting food needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are guarding our rice availability, strengthening our\ndistribution, and continuously monitoring prices. The government will\ncontinue to be present to protect the interests of farmers while also\nprotecting the purchasing power of the community, so that national food\nstability can be maintained,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislator-pushes-for-rice-price-stabilisation-to-protect-farmers-and-consumers-1791122137", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }