"The United Nations has warned of a food crisis in 2050. Hence, from now on, we have started to anticipate it," Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono remarked at the child-friendly integrated public space (RPTRA) in Pulo Gadung Sub-district here on Monday.
Hartono expressed hope that the next Jakarta governor would also focus on addressing climate change-related problems. "The next governors must think about how vulnerable it is. This must be considered," he emphasized.
He remarked that the provincial government will collaborate with food-producing regions to prevent a food crisis by involving regional-owned enterprises (BUMDs) in the food sector.
The BUMD companies include Food Station, infrastructure construction entity Sarana Jaya, city market operator Pasar Jaya, and Dharma Jaya in the meat industry.
"We will triple the stock and bolster cooperation with producing regions, including East Nusa Tenggara. We need help for meat (supply) in Jakarta," he noted.
Head of the Jakarta Food Security, Marine, and Agriculture Office, Suharini Eliawati, noted that the cheap staple food market activity held by the Jakarta provincial government is part of the efforts to ensure greater ease for people to obtain quality food at affordable prices.
In addition, affordable food can help maintain food supply and price stability as well as control regional food inflation, she said.
"We continue to synergize and optimize the role of food BUMDs to provide and distribute food with good quality," Eliawati stated.
The provincial government also actively involves stakeholders from various parties to support food supply, she said, adding that synergy is carried out with state railway company PT KAI for conducting Monday's activity.
The cheap food market held in Jakarta's five administrative areas offered food packages containing five kilograms of rice, one kg each of sugar and wheat flour, and two liters of cooking oil priced at Rp100 thousand (around 6 US dollars).
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Translator: Siti N, Kenzu
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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