Zulkifli Hasan, coordinating minister for food affairs, on Monday said Indonesia plans to implement a nationwide single rice price policy starting in 2026 to reduce price disparities across regions.

Mr Hassan said the policy is aimed at ensuring uniform rice prices across the country, including in eastern Indonesia, with the government providing support for distribution financing to address logistical challenges.

“We don’t want eastern Indonesia to pay higher prices. In 2026, we will strive to apply a single rice price nationwide,” Mr Hasan said after a coordination meeting on food affairs.

According to him, the plan requires strengthening the role of state-owned logistics agency Bulog, particularly in managing rice distribution and maintaining national price stability.

He added that the government has discussed assigning Bulog an assignment margin to ensure sufficient financing capacity to carry out these tasks.

According to him, authorities also reviewed national rice supply conditions amid projections that the main harvest season may begin earlier, starting in February, which is expected to help support price stability.

Prices discussed as a reference for the policy include 14,900 rupiahs (about $0.96) per kg for premium rice and 13,500 rupiahs per kilogram for medium rice.

Under Bulog’s subsidised food supply and price stabilisation programme, rice for lower-income groups is sold at between 11,000 and 12,000 rupiahs per kg.

Mr Hasan said the single-price rice policy is still under preparation and will require coordinated support across areas, including distribution, financing, and infrastructure.

(Xinhua/NAN)