"This GPM program is very helpful for the community in meeting their food needs,"
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, said that his agency has carried out the Cheap Food Movement (GPM) 6,116 times so far this year to stabilize food prices and control inflation.

During the Regional Inflation Coordination Meeting in Jakarta on Monday, he informed that the movement, which provides food at affordable prices, has been carried out in 37 provinces and 477 districts and cities.

"This GPM program is very helpful for the community in meeting their food needs," he said.

According to him, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has directed that the government be present to ensure food is available and distributed uniformly in regions at affordable prices.

The Bapanas head also expressed his gratitude to regional heads, such as governors, district heads, and mayors, who have contributed to efforts to control inflation in the first half of 2024.

He said that synergy between the central and regional governments in implementing strategic steps such as GPM has supported inflation control, especially in the food sector, and helped keep it within the range of the government's target.

He added that in addition to GPM, another strategic step has been mobilizing food from areas that are recording a surplus to those experiencing a deficit through Food Distribution Facilitation (FDP).

As of July 31, 2024, Bapanas supported the distribution of 182.6 tons of food commodities, such as rice, corn, shallots, chicken, and chilis.

Adi urged regional heads to synergize with each other through Inter-Regional Cooperation (KAD).

He noted that volatile food inflation in July declined from 5.9 percent to 3.6 percent. On a year-over-year basis, inflation in July declined to 2.13 percent.

"These show that the contribution of GPM and focus group discussion is optimal in controlling the inflation rate by controlling food supplies and prices," he added.

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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Arie Novarina
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