Prices of rice up 30 percent in several areas in Java<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The price of rice has increased by nearly 30 percent in several
\nareas in Central and West Java, and many are attributing that to
\nthe government's plan to increase fuel prices and electricity
\nbills.<\/p>\n
In Purwokerto, Central Java, low quality rice, IR, is now Rp
\n3,000 per kilogram, Rp 600 higher than before.<\/p>\n
The price of Cisadane rice is now Rp 3,200 up from Rp 2,500.<\/p>\n
In Majenang, Cilacap, also in Central Java, one kilogram of IR
\nis Rp 3,200, Rp 700 higher than before.<\/p>\n
Traders said on Thursday that the prices had been steadily
\nincreasing recently, since reports of the government's plan to
\nincrease kerosene prices was circulated almost two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
Housewives in Majalengka and Cirebon, West Java, have also
\nbeen upset after they found that the price of rice had increased
\nby as much as Rp 800 per kilogram.<\/p>\n
Traders at the markets of Pasar Pagi, Pasar Sumber and Pasar
\nKanoman in Cirebon, said in separate interviews that the lowest
\nquality rice, IR 64, had risen to Rp 3,200 per kilogram and the
\nbest quality, Rojolele, is now at Rp 3,900 per kilogram nearly Rp
\n800 higher than it was just days ago.<\/p>\n
Pete, a 47-year-old rice vendor at a traditional market in
\nPurwokerto, said he was forced to sell the rice higher prices
\nthan before, \"Because I bought it at higher prices too.\"<\/p>\n
Another trader at the Wage market in Purwokerto, Suwasti, said
\nthe price hike also was occurring in other towns. \"Rice is also
\nnow expensive in Purwokerto and Kebumen. The rice traders there
\ncharge us transportation fees for the rice,\" Suwasti said.<\/p>\n
According to her, prices for many food items at the market,
\nincluding rice, have been increasing recently.<\/p>\n
Deputy head of the Banyumas Logistics Office Isturi Parwanto
\nsaid that the price hikes were a response to the government's
\nplan to increase the prices of fuel.<\/p>\n
\"There is no problem with the rice supply,\" he said. \"We still
\nhave 36,900 tons in stock for the next five months.\"<\/p>\n
In Cirebon, West Java, the speaker of the regency legislative
\ncouncil, Suryana, said the legislature would soon urge the
\nlogistics office to conduct market operations to control the
\nprice hikes.<\/p>\n
\"The scarcity of fuel has caused the increase in the prices of
\nrice because transportation fees have also been soaring. The
\ndisappearance of unhusked rice from Indramayu, Kuningan and
\nArjawinangun -- the three districts known as the rice capitals of
\nWest Java -- has also contributed to the skyrocketing prices,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He predicted that the price of the staple food would be normal
\nby the third week of March, when the farmers will enjoy a good
\nharvest.<\/p>\n
Commission B, dealing with economic affairs, urged the
\nlogistics office to supply more rice through market
\noperations.<\/p>\n
\"Greater supply will surely control the rice prices,\"
\ncommission B chairman Aris Kristanto said in Semarang on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Nono Satria of the logistics office said market
\noperations started on Wednesday in several markets in several
\ntowns. \"A total of two tons of rice were sold in the market
\noperations,\" he said, adding that the price was Rp 2,900 per
\nkilogram.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the Cirebon logistics office has yet to conduct
\nmarket operations, despite the instruction from the head of the
\nNational Logistics Agency (Bulog) Puspoyo Widjanarko.<\/p>\n
The head of Cirebon logistics office M. Jibran was not
\navailable for comment.<\/p>\n
Antara news agency reported from Malang, East Java on Thursday
\nthat local logistics offices had launched market operations at
\nPasar Besar in a bid to control the prices of rice.<\/p>\n
\"As a first step we sold 500 kilograms per day at the normal
\nprice of Rp 2,900 per kilogram,\" spokesman for the logistics
\noffice A. Supriyadi said. \"If people's responses are good we will
\npossibly increase the supply.\"<\/p>\n
He said that only the prices of middle and high quality rice
\nhad gone up in Malang, \"not the price of IR rice.\"<\/p>",
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