This is in accordance with President Joko Widodo's mandate to increase food production as much as possible to meet domestic needsJakarta (ANTARA) - The National Food Agency (NFA) ensures the supply of food commodities will be sufficient at stable prices ahead of Eid al-Adha.
"To anticipate the price spike ahead of Eid al-Adha, NFA continues to facilitate food distribution of several food commodities, such as chili, onions, corn, and beef," Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi noted in a press statement here, Tuesday.
The NFA had facilitated chili distribution from surplus areas in the Wajo, Jeneponto, and Takalar districts in South Sulawesi to the deficit areas. This step was taken to meet the demand for chili supplies in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) as the main market. The distribution had been commenced three weeks back.
He explained that chili distribution was an interventional step to handle chili prices and support chili farmers. Based on data from the Wajo district government, the purchase price of chili at the farmers' level could reach Rp60 thousand, which was earlier only Rp30 thousand, and even below Rp10 thousand.
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The data also showed that the potential of chili areas was high enough for domestic needs and could be utilized as a source of chili production to strengthen national stocks.
Based on data from the Agriculture and Food Security Service of Wajo District as of June 2022, the total production of Wajo chilies reached 1,244 tons, with a planting area of 377 hectares and a harvested area of 972 hectares.
"This is in accordance with President Joko Widodo's mandate to increase food production as much as possible to meet domestic needs," Adi stated.
The NFA is also facilitating the continued distribution of 36 tons of shallots to Palembang, Temanggung, and Bangka Belitung. Furthermore, corn commodities have been facilitated for distribution of up to 1,139 tons from farmers in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) to several areas in Central Java and East Java.
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Adi also emphasized that people should not harbor concerns over food availability ahead of Eid al-Adha.
Meanwhile, for cattle commodities, his side encourages people to make sacrifices online to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in livestock. Online sacrifice for Eid al-Adha was considered safe and legal.
"We need collaboration from all parties to prevent the spread of FMD. NFA also invites everyone to minimize the spread of FMD during Eid al-Adha, including official institutions providing online qurbani, such as Baznas, Dompet Dhuafa, Rumah Zakat, and Global Qurban, as well as ID Food to contribute as providers of sacrificial animals,” he added.
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Translator: Aditya Ramadhan, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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