Minister Of Home Affairs Asks Local Governments To Control The Increase In Red Chili Prices

BALIKPAPAN - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian asked the local government (Pemda) to oversee rising commodity prices, especially red chilies.

"This is really a concern for us and I will definitely monitor which areas can control it, which are consistently unable to control it, this is an assessment material," Tito said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, December 4.

Moreover, the increase is known to occur in relatively fertile areas. An active breakthrough is needed from the regional head so that the price of red chili can be controlled.

The Minister of Home Affairs asked that the control of the price of red chili can be done, such as controlling rice. Thanks to the cooperation of all parties, rice prices are currently relatively under control.

As directed by President Joko Widodo, Tito encouraged the regions to play an active role in price control and not only rely on central government policies.

According to him, so far the government through the National Food Agency (Bapanas) has implemented various kinds of interventions to control food prices.

This is like distributing rice to beneficiary families, efforts to deal with stunting problems, to hold cheap market movements. The implementation of this cheap market movement collaborates with a number of local governments.

"Well, this is what I ask for help for fellow regional heads to all carry out the same movement. All regions (can) use the regular social assistance budget or unexpected spending, can also collaborate with entrepreneurs to carry out cheap market movements. So selling cheap basic necessities, selling subsidies. This can also suppress inflation," he added.

In addition, the Minister of Home Affairs encourages stakeholders such as Badanas, the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan), to the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) to be more focused and detailed in monitoring the availability of food commodities in the regions.

If it is known that there are areas experiencing scarcity of food commodities, these stakeholders are encouraged to be able to help efforts to mobilize commodities from areas that have abundant food stocks.

"This is a way to overcome it, I think that's the way it is. Then there was an activity called a genius, a nutritious food-giving educational movement for students and there was also a deconcentration fund that had just been realized by 85 M from 145 AD. It has been explained by several regions. If (the budget) is not used, unfortunately," Tito concluded.