The Ministry of Trade's Market and Basic Needs Monitoring System (SP2KP) recorded the national average price of premium rice at Rp15,200 per kilogram (kg) on Thursday (4/1/2024).
North Maluku had the highest average price of premium rice at Rp17,583 per kg. This province also had the highest average price for medium-grain rice.
West Sumatra followed with an average price of Rp16,958 per kg, followed by Central Kalimantan at Rp16,807 per kg.
South Kalimantan was fourth at Rp16,519 per kg, and Maluku fifth at Rp16,500 per kg.
Conversely, Central Sulawesi had the lowest average price of premium rice at Rp13,650 per kg, followed by South Sulawesi (Rp13,680 per kg) and North Sulawesi (Rp13,861 per kg).
The following is a complete list of the 10 provinces with the highest average premium rice prices in Indonesia on Thursday (4/1/2024):
* North Maluku: Rp17,583 per kg
* West Sumatra: Rp16,958 per kg
* Central Kalimantan: Rp16,807 per kg
* South Kalimantan: Rp16,519 per kg
* Maluku: Rp16,500 per kg
* Papua: Rp16,458 per kg
* West Kalimantan: Rp16,272 per kg
* North Kalimantan: Rp16,188 per kg
* Riau: Rp16,050 per kg
* West Papua: Rp15,958 per kg.
According to *Katadata*, the price of medium-grain rice increased by 22% throughout last year, while premium rice increased by 19%.
Although prices are now starting to ease, they are still significantly higher than the same period last year. On January 4, 2022, the price of medium-grain rice was Rp11,470 per kg, while premium rice was Rp13,050 per kg.
President Joko Widodo explained that the phenomenon of rising rice prices is not only occurring in Indonesia but also in various other countries.
"All countries are experiencing this, but the increase in our country is not as drastic as in other countries," Jokowi said in an official statement via a video uploaded to the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube account on Tuesday (2/1/2024).
He explained that the current increase in rice prices is due to climate change, namely the El Niño phenomenon. In addition, he said that 22 countries have stopped exporting rice, causing price fluctuations.
"We can still control prices because Bulog's stock at the end of last year was still 1.4 million tons," said Jokowi.
(See also: 10 Provinces with the Highest Medium Rice Prices in Early 2024)