Prices Plunge, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Reminds Bulog to Absorb Farmers' Paddy According to HPP Sudaryono regrets that the price of paddy in South Sumatra is the most plummeted. Rep: Frederikus Bata/ Red: Ahmad Fikri Noor

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture in Indonesia, Sudaryono, has urged Bulog to purchase rice from farmers at the government-set price of IDR 6,500 per kilogram to prevent a decrease in rice prices. He reprimanded middlemen for exploiting farmers and directed them to maintain the set price. The Deputy Minister also expressed concern over the low prices of unhusked rice in South Sumatra, especially in light of the government's higher set price, and warned authorities to investigate and rectify the situation promptly.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, OGAN ILIR -- Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan), Sudaryono asked Bulog to immediately absorb rice from farmers who have entered the peak of the rice harvest season this year in accordance with the selling price (HPP). The HPP of rice has been set by the government at IDR 6,500 per kilogram. The Wamentan explained that the absorption of farmers' rice was carried out in order to maintain the price of rice according to the rules, and farmers receive benefits. This is because facts are still found in a number of regions, one of which is in South Sumatra, the price of farmers' rice is currently being sold below IDR 5,400 per kg. "There should be no more grain prices below IDR 5,400 at the farmer level, I ask the middlemen not to profit alone, feel sorry for the farmers. Therefore, in two days Bulog must also be ready to absorb grain according to the HPP," said Sudaryono, written in an official statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, when he reviewed the ...