No Worries About Rice Supply, Prices Are Also Under Control

As a primary need and one of the main consumption menus for the majority of the Indonesian population, it is always hoped that the guaranteed supply of rice can be maintained. The unavailability of rice to meet needs can trigger inflation and various other social problems.

Therefore, as a guardian of food supply stability, especially rice, Perum Bulog launched the Cheap Food Movement (GPM) for SPHP (Supply and Food Price Stabilization) Rice on July 18, 2025. This movement aims to maintain the supply and price of rice so that they remain under control.

Rice is a major national food commodity, so its supply and price must be ensured to be safe because it will affect the rate of inflation. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the July 2025 inflation rate reached 2.37%, where rice contributed 0.15%. Rice is the commodity with the highest contribution to inflation.

In carrying out this SPHP Rice GPM, Perum Bulog will be assisted by the Indonesian National Police (Polri) in the form of supervision.

Director of Operations and Public Services of Perum Bulog Mokhamad Suyamto said that his party and the Police had held a coordination meeting. The two agencies agreed to strengthen food security and control rice prices through the implementation of the SPHP Rice GPM, thereby stabilizing and maintaining inflation.

"This synergy is a strength in intensifying the distribution of SPHP rice, ensuring that it really reaches the hands of people in need," he told SUAR, Sunday, (10/8/2025).

The SPHP program is a government assignment to Perum Bulog through the National Food Agency (Bapanas) with the aim of maintaining the stability of supply and prices of rice at the consumer level.

This program will take place during the period July to December 2025 with a distribution target of 1.3 million tons of rice throughout Indonesia. Purchases of SPHP rice by consumers are limited to 10 kilograms with the aim of being more evenly distributed among many people.

The price of SPHP rice sold in the SPHP Rice GPM will follow the highest retail price (HET) according to their respective regions. Namely, IDR 12,500 per kg for the regions of Java, Lampung, South Sumatra, Bali, NTB, and Sulawesi; IDR 13,100 per kg for the regions of Sumatra except Lampung and South Sumatra, NTT, and Kalimantan; and IDR 13,500 per kg for the regions of Maluku and Papua.

"With the increasingly strong synergy between Bulog and the Police, this movement is expected to be a new milestone in strengthening the national food security system," said Suyamto.

Must involve the private sector

Agricultural observer at IPB University Dwi Andreas said that the SPHP Rice GPM is indeed needed at this time, considering that rice prices in various regions are unreasonable and not in accordance with the HET.

He suggested that Perum Bulog and the Police must be truly consistent in carrying out this SPHP Rice GPM and need to involve the private sector in supervision.

"The ones who have networks to the market and in narrow alleys are the private sector, it would be better if they were invited," he told SUAR, Sunday, (10/8/2025).

Currently, many private parties such as rice mills are worried. Many of them are closing their businesses because they are intimidated by the Food Task Force. In fact, the private sector and the government must have a harmonious relationship - not suspecting each other.

Dwi said that the strength of the national food system will occur if there is integration between the government and the private sector, not just a matter of policy.

Adjust the highest retail price (HET) with the cost of goods sold (HPP)

The Chairman of the Indonesian Rice Milling Association and Rice Entrepreneurs (Perpadi), Sutarto Alimoeso, said that one thing that is still a concern for rice entrepreneurs is the lack of synchronization between the highest retail price (HET) regulation and the government purchase price (HPP).

The government needs to adjust the retail price (HET) of rice in the market with the increase in the government purchase price (HPP) of unhusked rice at the farmer level.

"Essentially, the highest retail price (HET) must be adjusted to developments in the government purchase price (HPP) so that consumers and farmers are not harmed," he said.