It has been 100 percent completed
Bandung, West Java (ANTARA) - The West Java Industry and Trade Office conducted market operations in 26 districts and cities where staple goods were sold at subsidized rates to 125 thousand poor families.

Head of the office Noneng Komara Nengsih said here on Friday that the market operations named Cheap Subsidized Market Operation (Opadi) were launched at Depok City earlier this week, with a target of selling 4 thousand packages to city residents.

"The Opadi continued to other regions such as Cimahi City, Purwakarta District, Bogor, Karawang District, and others," she added.

She said the series of Opadi were held to anticipate an increase in staple food prices ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1444 Hijri.

Higher prices of food would disrupt the purchasing power of people, especially those from underprivileged groups, she added.

Meanwhile, the province's Industry and Trade Office allocated a budget of Rp10 billion (US$680 thousand) this fiscal year for assisting poor families.

"We thank the local governments for supporting anything, from the inventory of poor households data to organizing the market operations," she said.

The subsidized staples sold during Opadi included premium rice, which was sold at Rp34,750 per 5 kilograms, and national standard (SNI) cooking oil at Rp19,700 per 2 liters.

Meanwhile, SNI-packaged white crystal sugar was priced at Rp14,400 per 2 kg and packaged wheat flour at Rp10,800 per 2 kg.

Targeted residents could also buy staples in bundles.

"The amount of subsidies for each of these commodities was determined based on a study by the Center for Sustainable Food Studies at Padjajaran University," Nengsih explained.

For instance, Rp477.9 million in staple subsidies were allocated for six thousand poor families in Cimahi city, she said.

"This means that every poor household in Cimahi city got a subsidy of Rp79,650 to get four types of staple commodities," she explained.

On Friday, Opadi were held simultaneously in Indramayu, Garut, and Pangandaran, which marked the end of the cheap market program.

"It has been 100 percent completed," Nengsih said.

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Translator: Ajat S, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
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