The Need For A Number Of Food Commodities In Jakarta Starts To Rise Ahead Of Ramadan, But Stock Is Still Safe

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Food, Maritime and Fisheries Security Service (DKPKP) noted an increase in the need for a number of food commodities in the capital city ahead of this year's Ramadan.

"Commodities experiencing an increase in food needs include chicken eggs, beef, garlic, cayenne pepper, shallots, sugar, cooking oil, chicken meat, red chilies, and rice," said Head of DKI DKI DKI DKPKP Suharini Eliawati to reporters, Tuesday, February 28.

In detail, demand for chicken eggs rose 6.77 percent or 715 tons, beef rose 5.13 percent or 368 tons, garlic rose 3.35 percent or 77 tons, cayenne pepper rose 2.76 percent or 78 tons.

Then, shallots rose 2.61 percent or 193 tons, sugar rose 2.27 percent or 171 tons, cooking oil rose 2.23 percent or 430 tons, chicken meat rose 2.19 percent or 295 tons, red chili rose 2.13 percent or 76 tons, and rice rose 0.19 percent or 160 tons.

However, Eli claims that currently Jakarta's food availability is relatively safe. Although, there is a period of decreasing food supply due to the weather.

"There has been a slight decrease in the supply of horticultural food due to high rainfall in the central area this month. Along with reduced rainfall and entering the harvest season, it is hoped that incoming supplies will increase and achieve normal conditions as usual," he said.

The commodities that experienced a decline in supply between the third week compared to the second week of February 2023 were red chilies, green cayenne pepper, and shallots.

"However, it is hoped that in early March 2023 the supply will return to normal because it will soon enter the harvest period," he continued.

Furthermore, Eli said that there is one food ingredient that will continue to increase prices ahead of the month of Ramadan, namely chicken eggs. This can be seen from the upward trend in food commodity prices that occur every year.

"As the upward and decline trends approach the HBKN (national religious holidays), usually the food commodity prices that rise the highest before Ramadan are eggs," said Eli.

Eli has not been able to predict how much the price of eggs will increase in Ramadan this year. Based on previous data, the increase in egg prices could reach 7 percent of the highest retail price (HET) set at IDR 27,000 per kilogram.

"We'll try to see it for the current period. According to data from the last 5 years, the highest price increase in eggs could be up to 7 percent. Other (commodities), for us (increase the price) are normal," he added.