REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Head of National Food Agency (NFA/Badan Pangan Nasional) Arief Prasetyo Adi said rice price is start to decreasing to IDR 14.000 per kilograms (kg) after harvested dry grain's (GKP) price declining at farmers level.
"Declining GKP's price at IDR 7.040 per kilos has cut rice price about IDR 2.000 per kilos so the rice price today is IDR 14.000 per kilos," Arief said in Coordination Meeting of Food Supply and Prices Assurance ahead Ramadhan and Idul Fitri in Jakarta, Monday (Mar. 4, 2024).
GKP's price has touched IDR 8.000 per kg. The price is IDR 7.040 per kg now. Arief confidence if GKP price has been decreasing then the rice price would be cut significantly.
He added that the raising of GKP's price pulled up rice price. Count the rice is simple. It is twice of GKP's price. If GKP's price was IDR 8.000 or IDR 9.000 per kilos then the rice price was IDR 16.000 or IDR 18.000 per kilos.
Decreasing of GKP's price was led by harvest season on March to April. Harvesting grains was predicted to 3,5 million tons. On the other hand, national rice consumption would be about 2,5 million tons.
"Harvest season now ongoing in Lamongan, Tuban, Bojonegoro, Sragen, Ngawi, Demak, Grobogan, Lampung, and Sumsel," he said.
Arief thanked all food stakeholders for synergy in handling rice. He also reminding the meeting that President Joko Widodo emphisized to all related stakeholders to look carefully about the rice stock and its price stability.