Bulog Admits Market Operations Have Not Lowered Rice Price
2 March 2015 03:38 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) acknowledged that the price of rice has not decreased although it had conducted several market operations.
However, Bulog expected that the price would be stable in the next two weeks.
"We are hoping that the price would be within reach of the consumers. As for the exact price that is expected, we should wait for two weeks," said Bulog Director of Public Service, Lely Pritasari Subekti in Jakarta on Saturday, February 28, 2015.
However, although the average price of rice nationally has not decreased, Lely claimed the market operations were able to lower the price of rice by Rp150 per kilogram.
Based on the latest report, Lely noted that the average retailed price of rice is still around Rp10,000 per kilogram and said that in several regions that produce rice such as in South Sulawesi, the price is lowers.
She also said the second phase of the market operations would be done on Monday, March 2, 2015.
In the meantime, in order to ensure the cause the surge in the price of rice, the Trade Ministry had set up a special audit team.
The team, which begins working on Sunday, will cooperate with the National Police Criminal Investigation Directorate (Bareskrim), the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) as well as a survey institution.
FAIZ NASHRILLAH