Jakarta, Aug. 21 -- President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his aides to continue working to stabilize rice prices in order to protect farmers, keep the staple affordable, and strengthen national food security.

National Food Agency (Bapanas) head Arief Prasetyo Hadi conveyed the directive in Jakarta on Thursday, stressing that the government is committed to maintaining food price stability at both the producer and consumer levels.

As part of this effort, the government has set a purchasing price for unhusked rice at Rp6,500 (US$0.40) per kilogram. The benchmark applies not only to state logistics company Bulog but also to all rice mill stakeholders.

Hadi reminded rice mills to buy unhusked rice at no less than the government's standa...