Staple Food Stocks and Prices Under Control Ahead of Ramadan, Eid Day, Gov’t Ensures

The Government has pledged to maintain supply of staple foods and affordable price of those commodities ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan and the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr this year.

According to Ministry of Trade, the Government will calculate, analyze, control, and execute plans to ensure adequate supply of staple foods in order to predict and maintain stability of staple food prices.

“Ahead of Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr this year, the stock and the price of staple foods are monitored to be safe and stable. Ministry of Trade has intensively coordinated with associations of production, sellers, distribution and all other relevant stakeholders to ensure that,” Minister of Trade Muhammad Luthfi said, Tuesday (16/03/2021).

“We will also ensure that the price of rice and sugar will remain stable. It is because we will welcome the rice harvest period in March. Moreover, we will secure import of raw sugar to increase stock of sugar and the refined and milled sugar will enter the local market. Thus, the price of sugar will stabilize to Rp12.500 per kilogram according to the highest retail price (HET), ” Lutfi explained.

Lutfi added that the price of red chili would drop again after it rose due to bad weather that damaged crops in several regions, including Tuban, Kediri, and Blitar in East Java province and also Wajo in North Sulawesi province.

When the harvest time comes, stock of chili will increase and the price will also stabilize, he added.

“I also confirm that should there were a price increase, it will be sporadic cases in the market. We make sure the stock is always available and we will see a good a price decline until Eid-al-Fitr,” he remarked. (PR of Trade Ministry/UN) (AP/EP)