“Rice prices have increased in all provinces. The government is carrying out market operations through the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) in all provinces started on early January, but there has only been a slight decline," the president noted after checking the prices of goods at the Baturiti Market, Tabanan, Bali, Thursday.
To this end, he remarked that market operations will be continued, especially during these weeks.
Jokowi, on Tuesday, January 31, summoned the President Director of Bulog, Budi Waseso, to the Presidential Palace to discuss the issue of rising rice prices and the availability of rice and other basic goods.
After the meeting with the President, Waseso stated that his side had prepared 315 thousand tons of rice from the government's rice reserve stock (CBP) that would be distributed through market operations until March 2023.
He stated that rice prices were expected to stabilize at the market and buyer level after market operations.
Meanwhile, at a separate location, Head of Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Margo Yuwono, urged the government and related parties to pay attention to stock management and the distribution chain of staple foods to control the price of goods, such as rice, that could cause inflation.
"That way, when it is not the harvest season, the availability of staple foods is still sufficient and prices can be controlled," Yuwono noted during a press conference on Wednesday.
He remarked that month-to-month inflation in January 2023 had reached 0.34, mostly contributed by food commodities.
In January 2023, food commodities included rice that contributed 0.07 percent; red chilies, 0.04 percent; fresh fish, 0.04 percent; and cayenne pepper, 0.03 percent.
This resulted in the volatile price component experiencing an inflation of 5.71 percent or higher than the December 2022 inflation of 5.61 percent and contributing 0.97 percent to the January 2023 inflation.
At the Baturiti Market visited by President Jokowi, the price of rice ranges from Rp11,000 to Rp12,000 per kg, or an increase of around Rp1,000 to Rp2,000 per kg from the price that people usually buy at the market.
Related news: Bulog readies 315,000 tons rice for market operations
Related news: Bulog disburses 100 thousand tons rice to tackle price hike
Related news: President Jokowi hopes trade jumps after gov't stop PPKM policy
Translator: Genta Tenri M, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
