BPS: Farmers' Exchange Rate Rises, Income Increases

JAKARTA - The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) reported that the Farmers’ Exchange Rate (NTP) in February reached 125.45 per cent, up 1.5 per cent compared to January.

According to Ateng Hartono, Deputy in Charge of Distribution and Services at BPS, the increase was driven by the Index of Prices Received by Farmers (IT) rising 2.17 per cent.

“This remains higher compared to the Index of Prices Paid by Farmers (Ib), which rose 0.65 per cent,” Ateng stated at a press conference at BPS headquarters in Jakarta on Monday, 2 March 2026.

The NTP serves as a key indicator used to measure the welfare level of farmers.

Beyond the increase in the margin between income and production costs, BPS also recorded that the national average rice price at wholesale and retail levels rose 0.45 per cent and 0.43 per cent respectively.

“Meanwhile, the average rice price at the milling level fell 0.33 per cent,” Ateng said.

The NTP is inherently volatile. The index fell 1.4 per cent from 125.35 in December 2025 to 123.6 in January 2026. This decline occurred even as rice prices rose.

At that time, rice prices at the milling level rose 0.75 per cent month-on-month, whilst wholesale prices increased 0.40 per cent and retail prices rose 0.16 per cent.

Currently, rice farmers are facing the main harvest season. The Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, stated that this year’s main harvest season started earlier than in 2025.

The harvest season began in February, continuing through March and into April. As a result, he requested that Perum Bulog ensure readiness to absorb 4 million tonnes of Government Rice Reserve (CBP) in 2026.