"Please start today; the food task force really (must hold) meetings to discuss food stability in their respective regions and take steps, both to meet supply and to ensure that the distribution of food is really smooth," Karnavian said in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday.
Food is a basic need of society, so if a problem occurs, it will have an impact on various aspects, such as politics, security, and other aspects.
The increase in the prices of several food commodities must be followed up to ensure price stability, the minister said. This work needs to be taken seriously, not only by the central government but also local governments (pemda) at the level of provinces and districts and cities.
Karnavian also asked the food task force of local governments to work in parallel with the food task force formed by the police, referring to the duties of each task force.
"We ask the food task force to move, the main task of the food task force every day is to monitor the prices of nine basic commodities plus other important commodities," he said.
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A number of steps could be taken by the food task force to control prices while ensuring adequate food availability. In terms of supply, the minister said, local governments can build cooperation with other regions that are experiencing a food surplus so that the availability in their areas can still be met.
Meanwhile, in the distribution aspect, the task force can carry out checks by involving the trade office, agriculture office, and related regional officials, as well as distributors. The task force can gather large-scale food distributors and provide explanations so that they can facilitate distribution.
The approach can be taken by the task force for overcoming various problems.
However, Karnavian said, if the approach does not help overcome the food problem, then the task force can make efforts to enforce the law.
"Enforce the law. So that there is no hoarding,” he added.
The Minister of Home Affairs will monitor food availability in the next one to two months. Monitoring will be carried out by evaluating the performance of each local government.
As a form of appreciation, the Minister of Home Affairs will give awards to regions that are able to control food availability, so that there is no shortage of food.
"But on the other hand, if within one month (up to) two months, there are local governments that cannot control it (food availability, ed.), maybe I will also send a warning letter, and I will expose it to the media," Karnavian said.
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Translator: Boyke L, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Suharto
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