Imports of beef will be larger than in the first quarter of last year, so the price will not soar, he said after inspecting traditional marketplaces here on Saturday.
Ahead of the fasting month, which begins late this month, and the post-fasting holiday of Idul Fitri, one month later, prices will generally rise, including the price of meat, so prices must be curbed through increasing supplies, he said.
To balance the price of one of the basic necessities, imports of beef must be increased, Lutfi added.
He added that meat would be distributed to marketplaces across the country, including South Sumatra, where the price of meat has already surpassed the national level.
At the national level, meat sells at around Rp97 per kilogram, but in Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra, it has soared to Rp105 per kilogram.
In view of that, he said meat distribution to market places must be stepped up to stabilize the price.
Lutfi noted that the price has soared because supplies have not yet risen.
The head of the provinces trade and industry service, Permana, said earlier that South Sumatra is not a meat supplier and, therefore, meat supplies in the region are not as high as they might reach.
South Sumatra receives meat from other regions, such as Lampung and Java, while the province serves not only Palembang, but also other areas, he added.
(Reporting by Ujang Idrus/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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