I hope that the public will opt for SPHP rice as the prices of premium-grade rice have exceeded the determined highest retail price (HET).
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has advised people to switch to rice offered under the Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) Program in view of the current hike in premium-grade rice prices.

"I hope that the public will opt for SPHP rice as the prices of premium-grade rice have exceeded the determined highest retail price (HET)," he said on the sidelines of a review of rice stocks and prices at a shopping center in Jakarta on Monday.

Based on the Trade Ministry's review, premium-grade rice is currently being sold at prices ranging between Rp72 thousand (US$4.61) and Rp80 thousand (US$5.12) per five kilograms, he informed. The prices are higher than the government's HET of Rp69,500 (US$4.44) per five kilograms of rice.

Hasan attributed the soaring prices to the global heat phenomenon El Nino that has led to a delay in the harvesting period, disrupting supplies to markets and pushing up prices.

"Since we have yet to enter the harvesting period, the supplies of premium-grade prices are not as many as before. El Nino has been responsible for the delay in the harvesting period, leading to declining supplies and rising prices," he pointed out.

According to the minister, the provision of SPHP rice by state-run logistics firm Bulog is an alternative solution to tackle the current spike in the prices of premium-grade rice in some modern and traditional markets.

"We offer SPHP rice from Bulog as an alternative," he said.

Hasan emphasized that the distribution of SPHP rice is expected to help people obtain rice at stable prices while ensuring sufficient stocks of rice in markets.

The minister assured that Bulog still has ample stocks of rice in store, adding that the government is seeking to increase the supply of SPHP rice to markets to meet the demand properly.

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Translator: Muhammad H, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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