Government Requires Rice Traders to Sell HET Rice

INDUSTRY.co.id - Pangkalpinang- Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita requires all traders in traditional markets to sell medium rice at the highest retail price (HET) set by the government, in order to maintain the stability of rice prices in the community.

"We have prepared rice to be distributed to areas still lack of rice," said Enggartiasto Lukita while attending the peak of Harkonas 2018 warning in Pangkalpinang, Tuesday (4/24/2018)

He said currently 17 of 34 provinces in Indonesia have been distributed Bulog rice to maintain price stability before fasting and Idul Fitri.

"We only channel rice to areas that have less rice stock, in order to suppress price increases that will burden the people's economy," he said.

He emphasized that the Ministry of Trade will not channel the medium rice to areas that have been able to prepare rice for the needs of the people in the area.

"We will not go to areas that have been able to prepare rice such as South Sulawesi, East Java and other provinces, but we remain alert if the area suffers from rice shortage," he said.

According to him, the price of rice in the traditional market is stable, because the availability of rice in traders is enough so no longer need rice market operations.

"No need for market operations, because the price of medium rice in traders is already based on the HET set by the government," he said.