Sragen, Central Java - Presidential Communication Office spokesperson Prita Laura said that the government has invested a budget of Rp16.6 trillion in Perum Bulog to improve farmer welfare by purchasing rice at high prices.
"Rice is certainly one of the priorities, one form of strengthening which is that the government has recently invested Rp16.6 trillion in Bulog for two things," said Prita after monitoring the rice milling process at the Sragen Rice Milling Center owned by Perum Bulog in Sragen, Central Java, Saturday.
Prita said that the investment aims to ensure stable food availability and improve farmers' welfare. Where Perum Bulog buys farmers' rice referring to the government's purchase price (HPP) which has been set at Rp6,500 per kg.
The investment is also to support food security which is an important part of Indonesia's national security.
In addition, this investment is also directed to ensure food prices that are easily affordable for the public, as well as ensuring fair prices that benefit farmers throughout Indonesia.
With higher purchases of grain, this policy is expected to reduce practices that are detrimental to farmers, such as the role of middlemen who have often impoverished farmers.