Agriculture Minister Amran slams alleged rice mafia during inflation meeting

Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman expressed strong frustration during a regional inflation control coordination meeting regarding alleged rice mafia activities. Speaking before Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Amran argued that government meetings are ineffective if those responsible for price manipulation and fraud are not arrested.

Amran highlighted that even a minor price increase of Rp 1,000 can generate illicit profits of up to Rp 200 billion in a single day. He noted that fraudulent practices have shifted from rice adulteration, which previously caused losses estimated between Rp 89 trillion and Rp 100 trillion, to the manipulation of fortified rice. Laboratory tests reportedly revealed that some fortified rice products lack the promised vitamin B12 content. Amran stated he has reported these findings to President Prabowo Subianto.