Gov’t, Police Ensure Food Supplies During Ramadhan

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman delivers a press statement on food supplies ahead of Ramadhan and Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday (3/5), at the Headquarters of Polri, Jakarta

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahyo Kumolo, and Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) General Tito Karnavian ensured that food supplies would be able to meet the needs of the people ahead of the fasting month of Ramadhan and Eid al-Fitr this year.

Minister Amran said that there are 40,000 tons of beef in stock at the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), while the usual demand during Ramadhan is only 30,000 tons.

In the near future, the Government plans to add stock to 50,000 tons, the Minister said. “The current amount of beef in stock is more than enough to meet the needs. The maximum price of beef will be at Rp80,000 per kg, some of them are sold at Rp70,000 to Rp75,000 per kg. The point is that the price should not be above Rp80,000 per kg,” Amran said in a teleconference with all Regional Police Chiefs in Indonesia on Wednesday (3/5) at the Headquarters of Polri, Jakarta.

Moreover, there is 1.9 million metric tons of rice in stock that would be enough for the next eight months, the Minister added. “We have agreed (to synergize). Bulog now has warehouses with 1,000 tons of storage capacity. Ministry of Agriculture has also stockpiled 2,000 tons of shallots and 1,000 tons of garlic. The Ministry prepared the staple food, while Bulog bought the warehouses that will be prepared by the Ministry of Trade. This is our synergy to face high demand on food ahead of and after Ramadhan,” Amran said.

Regarding supply of shallots until after Eid al-Fitr, the Minister asserted that it would be enough. For the record, supply of shallots in January to June 2017 reaches 689,426 tons, while the demand is only 621,422 tons.

“The supply of sugar would also be enough. The Government generates 131,401 tons of excess supply of sugar for January until after Eid al-Fitr. The Government also secured the supply of cayenne pepper and red pepper. There are 321,370 tons of cayenne pepper in supply for March to June 2017, yet the demand is only 287,657 tons. While the supply of red pepper for the same period is 405.34 tons, yet the demand is only 375,140 tons,” Amran said.

The Minister also mentioned that the supply of chicken for April to June 2017 reached 1,659,936 tons, while the demand is only 1,630,760 tons, which means the supply would be enough or even created 29,176 tons of excess supply.

“The supply of eggs will also exceed the demand. The estimated supply of eggs will be 1,121,297 tons while the demand is only 900,688 tons. Thus, there are 220,609 tons of excess supply that will be enough to meet the following month’s demand,” Amran added.

Also on that occasion, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto asserted that there is no reason for the rise in rice price ahead of and until Eid al-Fitr because rice warehouse in Jakarta is filled with 400,000 tons of rice. In addition to that, the Minister added, officials in Central Java and East Java have also rent warehouses.

“Sugar, regardless of its brands, will be sold at Rp12,500 per kg. Bulog sells it at Rp11,250 per kg, and it will be sold by the distributors at Rp11,950 per kg. The price of sugar is down today, but the price still ensures the profit of producers and small traders,” Enggar added.

In the meantime, Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) General Tito Karnavian said that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo instructed all Government’s institutions to ensure the supply of staple foods and maintain the stability of their prices ahead of Ramadhan and until Eid al-Fitr.

According to Tito, staple food supply and stability are significantly affected by food distribution chain and it is because of speculators who are toying with commodity prices.

“According to the President’s instruction, the stability of staple food prices ahead of Ramadhan and until Eid al-Fitr should be maintained and monitored. The current problem lies in the food distribution chain, and speculators who are toying with commodity prices also contributed to it. I instruct all Regional Police Chiefs in Indonesia to take actions as firmly as possible. We will cooperate with Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bulog, and Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) and take several joint measures to maintain the stability of food prices,” Tito firmly said,

Tito also said that Polri will immediately establish a Task Force on Food which is specifically in charge of monitoring and taking firm actions against speculators who hoard food stocks. In his point of view, unreasonable price hikes is caused by the speculators who want unfair advantage. (Humas Kementan/ES)(RA/EP/YM/Naster)