Solo (Antara) - A number of farmers in Solo, Central Java, refused the government's plan to import rice, in a bid to push down the price of the commodity that remains high.
"I disagree with the plan to import the commodity, as we are approaching the harvesting season," said Head of the Joint Farmers Group Tunas Makmur of Kujon Village in Solo, Thursday.
He stated that when the government imports rice, then the farmers will suffer from such a significant loss as it will affect the prices of their products.
"The costs to plant and maintain our commodity are not insignificant, and if the import plan is carried out, our prices will plummet," he stated.
Rather than importing the commodity, he continued, the government should optimize the rice stock stored in the Logistics Agency (Bulog) warehouse instead.
Despite his rejection towards the import plans, he admitted that the price of unhulled rice among farmers is indeed high at 5,200 rupiah per kilogram for wet grains and 6,000 rupiah per kilogram for dry harvested grains.
"Unless the import is only carried out to meet the needs of the community this month, while waiting for harvesting season, then it would not harm the farmers and at the same time, it would also benefit the consumers, "he stated.
Head of the Kepanjen Village Joint Farmers Group Harjono stated that he would only support the import plans, only if it is done temporarily.
"At least only to meet the demands in January and February, that would be fine, considering that the price is currently indeed very high, but if the import goes on through to March, I strongly disagree because the harvesting season would start then," he remarked.
In regard to the rising prices of rice, Harjono admitted that it happened due to the high price of grains.
"In November, the price of unhulled rice is around 4,000 Rupiah per kilogram, and as we entered December, the price had gone up to 4,500 Rupiah per kilogram. This month, the price had gone up again to 5,400 to 5,500 Rupiah per kilogram," he revealed.
The rise in prices, he continued, happened as it is not harvesting season yet, meanwhile, farmers need to finance their operationals in maintaining the land