Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said that rice is no longer a cause of inflation in Indonesia, but is now a contributor to deflation.
According to Amran, the TNI and Polri also have a role in food distribution, which is why during the rice shortage season from September to November, deflation actually occurred and rice did not cause inflation.
"Thank you to the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) for working together to help the Indonesian people and farmers, making this a reality. This also improves their welfare and increases people's purchasing power," Amran said after launching the distribution of rice under the Food Supply and Price Stability (SPHP) program throughout Papua, centered at the Papua Regional Police Headquarters in Jayapura City, Tuesday.
He said the distribution of SPHP rice was carried out in collaboration with the TNI-Polri so that all residents could buy it at the same price
The highest retail price (HET) in Papua is recorded at IDR 13,500 per kilogram (kg), or IDR 67,500 per five-kg sack of rice. According to Amran, this is the first time rice has ceased to be a source of inflation. This success is due to the collaboration of all parties, as this has never happened before.
The release of the distribution of SPHP rice was carried out by Amran accompanied by Deputy Chief of Police Commissioner General Dedi Prasetyo and President Director of Perum Bulog Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Patrige Renwarin and Papua Governor Mathius Fakhiri marked by the release of 25 trucks transporting SPHP rice to six districts and cities in Papua
The 25 trucks transported SPHP rice which was distributed to Jayapura City, Jayapura Regency, Sarmi, Keerom, Mamberamo Raya and Pegunungan Bintang Regency.
The target for SPHP rice distribution in Papua, which covers six provinces, is 4,634 tons of rice for 42 districts and cities.
