Food Task Force Checks Supply Of Basic Materials In Malang City Ahead Of Ramadan

The Malang City Police (Polresta) Food Task Force (Satgas) checked the supply of important staple goods in a number of people's markets in Malang City, East Java ahead of the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan.

Head of the Malang City Police Food Task Force, Kompol Danang Yudanto, explained that based on the results of checking on a number of people's markets in the area, the supply and stock of basic necessities were safe and sufficient.

"The stock is still safe. However, prices have increased," said Danang as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, February 26.

Danang explained that one of the people's markets monitored by the supply and prices of basic necessities was at Oro-Oro Dowo Market located on Guntur Street, Klojen District.

According to him, the Malang City Police Food Task Force checked the supply of important staples such as rice, cooking oil, chicken eggs, chilies, shallots and a number of other commodities.

"We check a number of basic ingredients that people often need. Such as rice, cooking oil, eggs, chicken meat, chilies, and shallots," he said.

He added that a number of basic necessities had indeed been recorded as experiencing an increase in prices. The price of premium rice in the market reaches Rp. 22 thousand per kilogram, while the price of chicken meat is in the range of Rp. 35 thousand per kilogram.

"For per kilogram of premium rice, the highest is Rp. 22 thousand. Meanwhile, for ordinary types, it is still below that price," he added.

The increase in commodity prices, he continued, is estimated to be due to a number of things such as hampered supply, as well as ahead of the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan in early March 2024 which contributed to the increase in prices.

"It can be caused by stocks that are hampered, it could also be because it is approaching Ramadan. So, people are busy adding stocks," he added.

Responding to the increase in the prices of a number of basic necessities, the Malang City Police Food Task Force will immediately coordinate with a number of related parties. This coordination is to ensure the smooth distribution process so that it can reduce prices.

"We will coordinate with related parties. So that the distribution process runs smoothly, the stock is safe. We hope that prices can go down by themselves," he said.

Based on data from the East Java Basic Material Availability Information System (Siskaperbapo), the average price of premium quality rice in Malang City in early January was recorded at the price range of Rp. 13,000 to Rp. 15,000 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, until the end of February 2024, rice prices rose and were in the range of Rp. 14,700 to Rp. 16,000 per kilogram. In an effort to reduce rice prices, the Malang City Government had previously carried out low-cost market programs in all sub-districts in the region.