Indonesia to Release 1.3M Tons of Rice to Stabilize Prices Post-Harvest
Jakarta. The government will release 1.3 million tons from its government rice reserves to stabilize prices following the end of the main harvest season, Chief Food Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan said on Friday.
As the country enters the second planting season during the dry season, rice production is no longer matching market demand, Zulkifli said.
“(State Logistics Agency) Bulog has been instructed to accelerate market operations. We already have 1.3 million tons ready to flood the market, but with strict supervision,” Zulkifli told reporters after a coordination meeting at his office in Jakarta.
According to Zulkifli, the end of the harvest season has pushed rice prices higher compared to earlier months, reflecting data from the Home Affairs Ministry that placed rice as the third-largest contributor to food inflation.
“During the second planting season, rice demand increases while production drops, leading to higher prices,” Zulkifli said.
The government will also tighten monitoring to ensure rice distributed under the government’s rice stabilization program, known as SPHP, is not mixed with higher-quality rice, amid efforts to crack down on fraudulent rice practices in the market.
“SPHP rice must be distributed in its intended form without mixing,” Zulkifli stressed.
Earlier this week, National Food Agency (Bapanas) head Arief Prasetyo Adi called on state logistics agency Bulog to ensure accurate targeting in the distribution of SPHP rice, which is aimed at low-income households.
“The government wants the distribution of SPHP rice to be precise. We have asked Bulog to ensure that the 5-kilogram rice packages reach the intended recipients,” Arief said on Monday.
Arief said that SPHP rice, which is subsidized by the government, should not be opened or mixed with other types of rice in the market to protect the integrity of the program.
To ensure the subsidy reaches those who need it most, distribution is under close monitoring by several agencies, including the National Police’s food task force and the Trade Ministry’s Directorate General of Consumer Protection and Trade Compliance.
Tags: Keywords:
as a preferred
Related Articles
Govt Targets Completion of 35,872 Village Cooperatives by August
Indonesia aims to complete 35,872 village cooperatives by August as the government prepares them to distribute subsidies and support farmers
Indonesia Offers to Export 10,000 Tons of Rice to Singapore
Indonesia has offered to export 10,000 tons of rice to Singapore as record domestic stockpiles create a surplus for overseas sales.
Indonesia Eyes 200,000-Ton Rice Export Deal With Malaysia
Indonesia is negotiating a 200,000-ton rice export deal with Malaysia worth an estimated Rp 2 trillion ($115.6 million).The Latest
Prabowo Calls Meeting on Forest Fires as Haze Reaches Jakarta, Singapore
Prabowo summons senior officials to discuss forest fires as smoke reaches Jakarta and Malaysia pushes for regional action.
Jakarta Outranks Amsterdam in Global Public Transport Survey
Jakarta climbs two places to 15th in Time Out's 2026 public transport survey, with its governor citing better network integration.
MSCI Concerns, Tighter IDX Trading Rules Send Indonesian Stocks Down 5% by Midday
Indonesian stocks plunge 5% by midday as MSCI concerns weigh on sentiment and the IDX tightens its daily downside limit to 7%.
Jakarta Prepares 367 Health Facilities as Haze Reaches the Capital
Jakarta prepares 367 health facilities to treat potential haze-related illnesses after smoke from Sumatra and Kalimantan crosses the region.
Jakarta Expands Flood Prevention With New Water Storage Ponds
Jakarta opens two East Jakarta water storage ponds as it expands flood prevention efforts through reservoirs and river normalization.Most Popular
