Jakarta, Feb 25 (Antara) - The price of rice, a staple food in the
country with a population of over 240 million, has been on the rise
since early this month.
At the Cipinang Rice Wholesale Market in Jakarta, the rice prices have
risen beyond control. On Tuesday, the price increased by an average of
Rp2,200 per kg. While moderate quality rice was sold at Rp10,200 per kg,
premium rice price rose from Rp10,000 per kg to Rp12,000 a kg.
At the Kebon Kembang market of Bogor, a satellite town of Jakarta in
West Java, rice prices increased by about Rp1,000 to Rp2,000 per kg. The
lowest priced-rice, previously sold at Rp6,500 per kg, was sold at
Rp6,500 per kg on Tuesday. At the same time, good quality rice cost
Rp12,500 per kg, up by about Rp1,500 to Rp2,000 per kg compared to
December 2014 and January 2015 prices.
In order to help curb the upward trend of rice prices, Vice President
Jusuf Kalla has called on the state logistics board (Bulog) to conduct
rice market operations.
"I have told Bulog to release 400 thousand tons of rice in the market.
In case this falls short, Bulog should distribute 500 thousand tons. We
hope we will have a grand harvest next month. So there should be no
worry about rice scarcity in the market," the Vice President said.
The Vice President also asked consumers not to indulge in staging
protests against increase in rice prices, and urged them to think of
paddy farmers. "While everyone gets angry when the price of rice is on
the rise, they forget to think of the farmers' fate. We have to have a
win-win solution---the rice should not be expensive but neither should
it be too cheap," he argued.
Since early this month, the prices of rice have been increasing to a
relatively higher level. The increase is believed to have been caused by
a lack of rice stocks in a number of rice producing regions in Java.
Therefore, Bulog has started to conduct rice market operations on
Wednesday. At the same time, distribution of rice for the poor (Raskin)
will also be undertaken.
"We will distribute 1,600 tons of rice in Jakarta and its satellite
towns of Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek)," Trade
Minister Rachmat Gobel said as he accompanied President Joko Widodo
(Jokowi) during a review of the rice market operations in Jakarta.
He said that the Jakarta market operations would be followed by
distribution of 300 thousand tons of rice across the country. "This is
based on the orders of Vice President Jusuf Kalla."
President
Jokowi on Wednesday monitored the simultaneous launching of the exercise
to distribute rice to the poor (Rasikin) and rice market operations.
The President arrived at state logistics board, Bulog Warehouse, in
North Jakarta at 10.30 a.m.
Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel said the government would conduct market
operations to distribute 300 thousand tons of rice to maintain price
stability across the country.
He said that his ministry also cooperated with the military and police
who would supervise the rice market operations so that no leakage takes
place in rice distribution.
"Firm action will be taken against those found hoarding rice. We have
sent signals to that effect because we are serious," the minister
stressed.
The government will distribute Raskin to the poor at a price of Rp1,600
per kg and launch the rice market operations at a price of Rp7,400 per
kg.
President Jokowi was observing the launch of the rice market operations
as part of his effort to see the rice distribution mechanism put in
place by the Bulog for the people in need. He will also observe directly
the rice trade mechanism.
Chief Economic Minister Sofyan Djalil said on Tuesday that the
President was willing to study the distribution of rice directly to the
people.
"Pak (Mr) Jokowi is willing to see himself how Bulog distributes rice.
Thus, Bulog will show what it does, including the distribution of 300
thousand tons of Raskin and market operations. Therefore, people should
not be worried about rice stocks," noted Sofyan.
He
said that the government has released a big quantity of rice that the
market needed. What is important now, he said, is to maintain the
balance of demand and supply.
"Those speculating in rice trade will suffer a loss if they keep
holding their stocks when the government is releasing rice in the market
operations. Actually, they probably thought that the government was not
serious in launching market operations. We have a stock of 1.4 million
tons of rice. If need be, we will release all of it. We will have a
grand harvest again in April," remarked the senior economic minister.
He pointed out that the government was thinking about what could be the
best system in future for distributing rice to the poor.
"We will think about it in the future. We must always have room to make improvements," Sofyan noted.
Referring to rising rice prices, the coordinating minister for economic
affairs expressed apprehension that it would lead to a sharp increase
in inflation. "Since the price of rice can affect inflation
significantly, the government is determined to tackle the problem by
launching market operations," he stated.
Sofyan acknowledged that the rising price of rice is a result of supply
side shortage, although Bulog's stock of 1.4 million tons of rice could
be sufficient to meet the demand for the next few months.
Therefore, the problem of delay in supply is expected to be resolved soon.
Sofyan also pointed out that the government will take legal action
against perpetrators found stocking and reselling rice illegally.
Although the price of rice has increased, that of other food
commodities has not. This raised suspicions that the surge in the price
of rice was caused by traders hoarding stocks of the commodity, he
alleged.***3***
(T.A014/INE/S012)
EDITED BY INE
(T.A014/A/BESSR/Suharto) 25-02-2015 21:57: |
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