Rice (prices have) become stable; the prices are not fluctuating.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President director of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), Bayu Krisnamurthi, on Thursday said that the provision of the 10-kilogram rice assistance has been empirically shown to control rice prices in the domestic market.

"Rice (prices have) become stable; the prices are not fluctuating. Maybe they are still high but they are not fluctuating, (they are) still at stable rates," he informed in a statement released here.

According to him, rice assistance is one of the government's key instruments to maintain stability in the price of rice, which is a vital commodity for Indonesians.

He said that the program is targeting vulnerable groups to help them meet their basic food needs.

"The second benefit of food assistance is that at least 22 million beneficiary families have 10 kilograms of rice in their homes per month, at least for three or six months," he highlighted.

Though it may not necessarily reduce rice prices in the market, the food assistance provided by the government through Bulog can help maintain price stability and keep prices from fluctuating, the agency has stressed.

The government has resumed the distribution of rice assistance after suspending it from February 8 to 14, 2024, to prevent the politicization of the aid program during the election silence period.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that the rice assistance provided to the community can control food prices in markets.

After monitoring rice stocks at the Cipinang Central Rice Market in Jakarta on Thursday, he declared that the rice provided by the government is meeting the people's needs. Thus, it can help keep food prices in check.

"This is actually to restrain price increases, (and) if not, (the prices) will actually jump. This is the supply and demand formula. The supply is provided and distributed well so that the prices are automatically under control," he explained.

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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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