Jakarta, June 14 (Antara) - The government has checked food stocks and
preparations for food distribution prior to Ramadan, the Muslim fasting
month, which will begin at the end of June.
"The rice stock available with traders is about 20 thousand tons and
that in the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) warehouses remain at 10
thousand tons. So, the stock remains secure," Chief Economic Minister
Chairul Tanjung said, while checking rice stocks at the Cipinang
wholesale rice market in East Jakarta on Friday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi also
conducted an inspection in a food distribution and retail center in
Balaraja, Banten province, to ensure distribution of goods in the coming
fasting month of Ramadan.
"We conducted the inspection to assure the availability of stocks. In
yesterday's coordination meeting, we learned that food stocks and
distribution were secure for the fasting month and the post-fasting
Lebaran festivities. With these conditions, the public could solemnly
conduct their fasting," Bayu Krisnamurthi said in a press statement on
Wednesday.
Last month, Chief Economic Minister Chaerul Tanjung promised better
food distribution than offered during last year¿s holiday.
"Food stocks and distribution of goods will be better this year than
last year. So, we hope that there will be no serious problems with
certain commodities during the next fasting month," the coordinating
minister for economic affairs said.
The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) earlier warned that the
government should make preparations for the public's food needs for the
fasting month to ensure price hikes would not boost inflation.
"Prices can hike and inflation can increase by about one percent during
the Lebaran holidays. So, the price of chicken and eggs, for example,
should be maintained from now," Sasmito Hadi Wibowo, a deputy for
service and goods statistics affairs of the BPS, said.
Also, Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi made an inspection of the
food retailer and distribution center in Balaraja to ensure stocks,
distribution and price stability.
His inspection of the Balaraja retail center is a follow-up to the
results of a meeting between the trade ministry and retailers from
across the country.
Bayu said processed food consumption by low-income people in villages
accounted for about 64 percent, while that of low-income urban people
was recorded at 72 percent. Consumption of processed food was relatively
high and retail shops played an important role in distributing
processed food products.
"Therefore, we made the inspection to ensure the availability of food
stocks for the public's basic needs and help maintain a controllable
inflation rate," added Bayu.
He expressed hope that retail shops would provide more than enough
basic needs and maintain stocks of 30 to 50 percent over normal
supplies.
The deputy trade minister also advised that should prices be increased
during the fasting month, it should be done gradually, based on the
balance of stocks and demand for certain commodities.
One of the main food products is rice, which is a staple food for the
Indonesian people. Thus, the coordinating minister for economic affairs
inspected the availability of rice, both in the market and the
warehouses of the state logistics board Bulog on Friday.
In his inspection to the Cipinang wholesale market in East Jakarta,
Chairul Tanjung found the rice stock there would be adequate for
Ramadan.
He said that the rice stock being held by traders reached about 20
thousand tons, while that in the Bulog warehouses remained at 10
thousand tons.
The normal transactions at the market were about
two or three tons of rice per day, though some traders said the stock
of IR3 rice needs to be replenished, he told newsmen during his visit to
the Cipinang market.
"More supply is needed for cheap rice. I have asked Bulog to meet the
required supply, which is expected to arrive this week," he added.
The chief economic minister also asked Bulog to increase rice supplies
to the Cipinag rice wholesale market, although rice stocks in the market
remain adequate. "Traders in the market asked for additional supplies
of medium-class rice because they have enough stock of premium rice. I
asked Bulog officials to supply the needed rice in the next one to two
days, Chairul Tanjung said at a press conference in the Ministry of
Trade office.
He
said rice stock with traders at the Cipinang Market remained at about
20 thousand tons, while Bulog's stock in the same market was 10 thousand
tons.
The
minister also visited the Bulog warehouses in North Jakarta to monitor
the availability of rice stocks there. "We also observed the
availability of rice stocks in Bulog. There is about 76 thousand tons of
rice in its warehouses, and that amount is more than enough, so the
stability of rice prices can be maintained," he added.
Meanwhile, Bulog President Director Sutarto Alimoeso said his agency
was ready to supply medium rice to the Cipinang market. "We are ready to
supply rice, no matter how much is required, as we still have enough
stock," he added.
Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's second-largest Islamic organization after the
Nahdlatul Ulama, had previously announced that the start of the fasting
month of Ramadan would begin June 28.
In the run-up to the
fasting month, the trade ministry will continue to observe wholesale and
traditional markets in Jakarta and in other provinces to monitor
prices, availability of stocks and distribution problems.
"The ministry of trade will also resume its annual agenda, such as
holding bazaars in Jakarta on June 26 and July 22, 2014, and in
provinces across the country on June 26 and July 22, 2014," noted Bayu
Krisnamurthi.
Based on the monitoring by the Directorate General of the Ministry of
Trade on June 10, 2014, the prices of several essential goods had, in
general, remained stable. Only certain commodities saw price hikes, such
as eggs, which increased by 2.14 percent, red unions 2.75 percent and
the price of garlic was up 10.54 percent.
However, the prices of rice, wheat, imported soybeans, chickens and
chili were relatively stable. The prices of sugar, cooking oil in bulk,
local soybeans, beef and red chili declined by 0.15 percent to 6.85
percent.
Based on observations, the price of rice in the Cipinang market on
Friday was still stable, ranging between Rp9,600 to Rp12,000 per
kilogram for Cianjur Kepala, Cianjur Slyp, Sentra and Saigon rice types.
The price of medium rice declined by about 0.6 to 2.4 percent. The
price of IR-64 I rice dropped 1.1 percent from Rp8,800 per kilogram to
Rp8,700 per kilogram.
The price of IR 64 II also fell by 2.4 percent from Rp8,100 per
kilogram to Rp7,900 per kilogram, while the IR 64 III fell by 1.3
percent from Rp7,500 per kilogram to Rp7,400 per kilogram. ***2***
(T.A014/INE/o001)
(T.A014/A/BESSR/O. Tamindael) 14-06-2014 12:00 |
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