Speaking at a working meeting with regional heads at the Jakarta Convention Center on Monday, the President said the government remained obliged to stabilize food and energy prices.
"Our obligation is to stabilize prices, food prices in particular. And we must continue it," he said.
In this respect, the head of state said there must no longer be a conflict between relevant ministers and regional heads over market operations designed to control food prices.
Under certain circumstances, relevant ministers could also issue fiscal incentives to prevent prices from skyrocketing, he said.
He said efforts must be made to ensure adequate food stocks and increase food production starting this year.
In addition, the President also asked relevant agencies to make a contingency plan for those affected by the food price hikes.
He said efforts must be made to achieve food self-sufficiency.
"Yesterday the agriculture minister reported that rice stocks in 2011 are estimated to reach over 5 million tons. I told him that the amount is not enough to feed the country`s population of 237 million in which the number of middle-class people continues to increase. Therefore, we need to double the figure," he said. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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