"The HET is not adjusted. The HET has been decided by President (Joko Widodo)," Bulog President Director Bayu Krisnamurthi stated in a media discussion event on Data and Facts on the Current Rice Affairs Situation in Indonesia in Jakarta on Tuesday (February 13).
He emphasized that despite rice prices in several regions having reached around Rp15 thousand (US$0.96) to Rp16 thousand (US$1.02) per kilogram, the government will not make adjustments to the HET.
According to Krisnamurthi, the prices in those regions are above the HET of rice set by the government, namely Rp13,900 (US$0.89) per kilogram for premium-quality rice.
In addition to the HET, he stated that the government will not increase the government's purchasing price (HPP) for unhusked rice at the farmer level, which has been fixed at Rp5,000 (US$0.32) per kilogram.
According to Krisnamurthi, as of February 12, his agency had distributed 226 thousand tons of Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) rice nationally to several modern retail stores to ensure stocks remain available and to stabilize prices.
The HET of SPHP rice is set at Rp10,900 (US$0.70) per kilogram. The rice is provided as an alternative for those who find premium-quality rice to be expensive.
Earlier, the Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo) urged the government to relax the HET of commodities, such as rice, sugar, and cooking oil, whose prices could potentially continue to increase in February 2024.
Aprindo Chairperson Roy N. Mandey stated that changing the HET is necessary, so that retailers can continue to make stocks of staple goods available to prevent shortage or scarcity in modern retail stores.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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