Ahead Of Ramadan, Central Maluku Regency Government Stabilizes Food Prices By Holding Cheap Markets

JAKARTA - The Central Maluku Regency Government (Malteng) is carrying out low-cost food market activities in order to stabilize food supply and prices at Masohi Binaiya Market. This activity is in the context of stabilizing prices and food supply, especially in preventing the increase in basic food prices ahead of the holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr 2024.

"The basic funds sold in this cheap market are far below the market price, here the price is cheaper," said Head of the Food Security and Holticulture Office of Central Maluku Regency Arsad Samalnya in a written statement received in Ambon, Saturday.

Arsad said this activity was in the context of stabilizing prices and food supply, especially in preventing the increase in basic food prices ahead of the holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2024.

He said that judging from the enthusiasm of the people who attended the cheap food market outlets, the effectiveness of cheap food market outlets in responding to the basic needs of the community at affordable prices.

"The cheap staple food is currently needed by the community. Because the price offered is far below the market price, such as rice which costs Rp. 14,000 per kilogram to only Rp. 11,000 per kilogram," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, March 2.

At the cheap food market outlets, various basic commodities such as rice, sugar, cooking oil and so on are sold.

Arsad said that in order to get cheap food, the community is required to bring a family card, to ensure that the person concerned needs the cheap food.

Besides that, he said the cheap food market was also an effort by the Central Maluku government to reduce the inflation rate in Central Maluku.

"The Central Maluku Regency Government is still trying to take steps to reduce the inflation rate. Of course, we hope that every effort made will benefit the community," he said.

This is because the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Maluku Province in its release noted that Maluku Province experienced inflation of 4.12 percent with a Consumer Price Index (JCI) of 105.84 in January 2024.

The highest contributor to inflation was Central Maluku Regency at 6.46 percent with a CPI of 106.15, followed by an inflation in Tual City of 2.88 percent with a IHK of 106.06 with a IHK of 105.62.

The dominant commodities contributed to inflation, namely onions, chilies, rice, eggs, and several other commodities.