"Alhamdulillah (Thank God), after we checked everything, there are no problems, almost all commodities are well-distributed and supplied," she said here on Saturday (April 1).
The governor also spoke with some traders at the market. After the inspection, she said was sure that the availability of the main food commodities in the two markets would be safe and sufficient throughout the Ramadhan month until Eid.
Although most prices were observed to be stable and were below the highest retail price (HET), the price of rice showed an increase.
The price of rice reportedly increased by an average of Rp100 to Rp150 per kilogram (around US$6.62-9.94).
Other commodities, such as beef, chicken meat, chicken eggs, bulk oil, and government-subsidized cooking oil Minyakita, were within the HET price cap.
Unlike onions, the price of red chilis decreased.
Parawansa said that she will keep monitoring the prices, supply, and distribution of staples in all regions of East Java.
One of the traders, Edy, said that rice prices were relatively stable, although there was an increase in the rates of certain types of rice. However, he said, the number of buyers tends to decrease at the beginning of Ramadhan, the Muslim fasting month.
Customers will increase in the middle and end of Ramadhan before Eid, when many buy rice for zakat or almsgiving.
"The supply is great, but the prices cannot be predicted. We hope that the prices of rice are stable so it is easy for us to manage and determine the selling prices," he added.
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Translator: Indra S, Kenzu
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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