The Ministry of Trade is strengthening coordination with relevant institutions and ministries to anticipate the impact of the El Nino phenomenon, which could cause an extreme dry season in Indonesia.
The strengthening of coordination, including with regional governments, is needed to anticipate the impact of the extreme dry season, Deputy Minister of Trade, Jerry Sambuaga, emphasized here on Thursday.
He said that the coordination between ministries and institutions is a part of efforts to ensure that the extreme dry season does not affect other sectors.
He noted that sectors like retail and trade are being accorded attention. The government will work to ensure the availability of supplies, especially of essential staple goods, he said.
He added that so far, the Ministry of Trade continues to monitor the supply as well as prices of essential staple goods in markets in several regions of Indonesia.
The supplies of essential staple goods are safe and sufficient, Sambuaga informed. However, he acknowledged that there are a number of commodities that have experienced fluctuations, but are still in normal state.
"So far, the supplies are safe, the availability is still sufficient, and the prices are relatively stable. Even though there are fluctuations, of course, but stable," he said.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued a statement warning all parties to stay vigilant against the potential for El Nino this year, which could cause a decrease in rainfall in Indonesia.
The government has been asked to raise vigilance for facing an extreme dry season, which has been predicted from July to August, considering that it could affect the domestic food production sector.
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Translator: Vicki Febrianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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