The Minister Of Trade Ensures Stock Of Staples Is Safe Ahead Of Ramadan: Cooking Oil And Soybeans Are Records

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Muhammad Lutfi ensures that the supply of basic necessities (bapok) to face the fasting of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr in Indonesia is controlled at affordable prices.

This was explained by the Minister of Trade at the National Coordination Meeting on Price Stabilization and Availability of Supplies of Basic Necessities Ahead of Fasting and Eid in Surabaya, this week.

“Bapok supplies are available throughout Indonesia for the next month and a half. Even though there are several obstacles related to distribution, especially in the outer regions of Indonesia for cooking oil commodities," he said as quoted on Sunday, February 20.

The Trade Minister added that in general, the supply of migrant workers has been released and prices will return to normal in the near future. For other commodities, such as sugar, the supply is abundant and prices are under control.

"For this reason, the Ministry of Trade ensures that the stock is available, does not harm farmers, and at the same time ensures that during fasting and Eid there are no unwanted things," he said.

In his notes, there are several conditions that need to be watched out for which can have an impact on rising commodity prices and the national economy.

One of them is the tension between Russia and Ukraine which will result in an increase in flour prices because these two countries are the world's main producers.

Another threat is climate change. The wet situation will disrupt the production of producing countries in Latin America, thereby increasing soybean prices.

"This is all we talk about and discuss to ensure stock conditions and mitigate price spikes," he said.