Citizens can remain calm; they do not need to compete to buy basic needs.Semarang (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on Tuesday assured of the availability of basic necessities during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.
“Citizens can remain calm; they do not need to compete to buy basic needs,” he said after monitoring the prices of basic needs at Bulu Market, Semarang, on Tuesday.
He noted that the availability of basic needs has been accompanied by a price decrease.
For example, the price of chicken, which previously reached Rp35 thousand–38 thousand (about US$2.26–US$2.45) per kilogram, declined to Rp32 thousand (about US$2.06) per kilogram on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the price of eggs was recorded at Rp26 thousand (US$1.68) per kilogram, whereas chili prices were no longer touching Rp100 thousand (about US$6.45) per kilogram.
“So, rice, eggs, and oil are abundant, and chilis are cheap,” he said.
However, the minister noted that sugar is still relatively expensive.
He then warned sugar importers to let the commodity enter Indonesia or face getting blacklisted.
Related news: Bapanas ensures fulfillment of rice availability
Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, earlier guaranteed sufficient food stocks for the community ahead of the 2023 Christmas and 2024 New Year holidays.
"Our food stock is safe and sufficient. However, the holidays' momentum surely has an impact, such as increasing food prices. The public is suggested to shop wisely according to their needs," Adi said on Tuesday.
He assured that the government will ensure food availability, including through inter-regional food mobilization via Food Distribution Facilitation (FDP), to balance the supply in regions with excess stocks and regions with deficit stocks.
"As of December 8 (2023), FDP realization had reached 2.54 million kilograms of food. We hope this could realize equal distribution to various regions, especially to areas where the majority of people celebrate Christmas," Adi said.
So far, 1.17 million kilograms of corn, 645 thousand kilograms of soybeans, 181 thousand kilograms of rice, 158 thousand kilograms of fried onion, 137 thousand kilograms of cooking oil, 79.5 thousand kilograms of sugar, 73.2 thousand kilograms of eggs, 44.8 thousand kilograms of wheat flour, 30 thousand kilograms of chicken meat, 16.8 thousand kilograms of red chilies, and 5.2 thousand kilograms of red cayenne pepper have been delivered under the FDP program.
"Last week, in Nagekeo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), President Joko Widodo found red cayenne pepper with a price of Rp50 thousand per kilogram, while the price in Java Island is more expensive. The price was cheaper in Nagekeo since it came from local production," he said.
Hence, his side is continuing to encourage local governments to pay attention to and develop their superior local commodities.
Related news: Stocks of strategic foods still safe until 2023-end: Bapanas
Translator: Immanuel, Luthfia, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
