Rice Stock, Staple Food Supply In Check This Month, Gov’t Ensures

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs delivers a press statement after a limited meeting, through a video conference on Wednesday (13/5). (Photo by: Agung/PR).

Rice stocks and food supplies are relatively safe following harvest season this month, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has ensured.

According to him, price of several commodities have increased; and some have dropped.

“Price of medium rice is still around Rp11,750 per kg and price of premium rice is Rp12,700 in wet markets across the provinces. Sugar price is Rp17,650 per kg and in modern retail markets, it is around Rp12,500 per kg,” he said, Wednesday (13/5).

Airlangga added that beef price is Rp118,000 per kg, chicken price is Rp31,000 per kg, egg is Rp24,000 per kg, bird’s eye chili is Rp32,600 per kg, red chili is Rp27,850 per kg, shallot is Rp51,950 per kg, garlic is Rp37,100 per kg with 129,000 tons stocks available, bulk cooking oil Rp12,000 per kg, and packaged cooking oil is Rp14,750 per kg.

The Minister also pointed out that food inflation saw a deflation of 0.13% last month, showing that demand was declining. The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) has 1.3 million tons of stock as of 30 April, he added.

On that occasion, Airlangga also unveiled the Government’s plan to develop new rice fields in Central Kalimantan province with a total area of 255,000 hectares.

“The size of land that has already been irrigated is 85,456 hectares, while 57,195 hectares of land have been planted with rice. In the meantime, potential availability of land for extensification is 79,142 hectares. (FID/EN)

Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas