Speaking at a coordination meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, attended by representatives from 214 regions, Karnavian emphasized the urgency of intervention amid increasing rice prices.
“It’s time to fully utilize government rice reserves at Bulog so local governments can act,” he said.
According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), rice remains a major driver of inflation. The number of regions reporting price hikes rose from 200 to 214 between the third and fourth weeks of August.
To address this, the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Food Agency (Bapanas), and Bulog will conduct market operations, distributing SPHP rice with support from local governments.
Karnavian said his office will monitor regional participation and stressed the importance of reaching low-income communities.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman expressed confidence that rice prices would stabilize if the program runs consistently through December. “If implemented properly for a month or more, we expect prices to decline,” he said.
Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani said the agency aims to distribute 1.3 million tons of SPHP rice by year-end. Regional offices have been mobilized to oversee distribution across 214 districts and cities, down to sub-districts.
Launched on July 18, 2025, the SPHP program—led by Bapanas in partnership with Bulog—aims to control inflation, ensure rice availability, and keep prices affordable for lower- and middle-income communities.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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