"Some prices have started to fall. We are continuing our monitoring. Now, modern retail outlets have also begun to stock SPHP (Food Supply and Price Stabilization) brand rice, although not yet 100 percent," Minister Santoso said here on Wednesday.
He believes that distribution issues were one of the contributing factors to the rise in national rice prices. "If modern retail sees a reduction in rice supply, then it is clearly a distribution issue. The stock is there," he stated.
Furthermore, the minister said his ministry, together with the National Food Agency (Bapanas), will continue to push for the wider distribution of SPHP rice in the market to reach more people.
"We are working with Bapanas to keep encouraging this, and we will assist in field monitoring, including accelerating distribution," he added.
On the other hand, the government, through the state logistics agency Bulog and the Ministry of Home Affairs, has ensured the smooth distribution of SPHP rice to maintain national food stability.
The President Director of Bulog, Achmad Rizal Ramdhani, said the public should have no doubts as Bulog guarantees the optimal distribution of SPHP rice for the benefit of the public and to keep rice prices under control in both traditional and modern markets.
The first phase of distribution targets market retailers, who serve as the frontline in selling directly to the public, so that the impact of SPHP rice distribution can be directly felt at the consumer level.
The second phase is carried out through Red and White Village Cooperatives as Bulog’s strategic partners in strengthening food access in villages, thereby making rice distribution more accessible to grassroots communities.
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Translator: Arnidhya, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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