DPR Asks The Government To Anticipate The Increase In Food Prices Towards The End Of The Year

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IV DPR RI Daniel Johan, asked the government to anticipate an increase in food prices ahead of the Christmas and New Year 2026 moments. This is because the price increases of a number of commodities have been seen in various regions, such as rice, chilies, onions, and a number of other horticultural commodities.

Daniel emphasized that this annual trend requires a comprehensive solution from the government. Because every year, people are always faced with price fluctuations due to various factors, ranging from extreme weather, inefficient distribution, to dependence on imports of certain raw materials.

"This increase in food prices is not just a matter of increasing demand ahead of the holidays, but a sign of a fundamental weakness in national food governance that must be addressed immediately," Daniel told reporters, Monday, November 24.

According to Daniel, the Government needs to move quickly and precisely, such as conducting short-term interventions such as market operations or distribution of SPHP rice (supply stabilization and food prices), which have not reached all regions.

"Steps are important, but not enough to ensure price stability at the consumer level as well as the sustainability of farmers' income and small business actors," he said.

The member of the House of Representatives commission in charge of trade and food affairs also highlighted the low efficiency in national food distribution which causes logistics costs to remain high, especially in eastern Indonesia. This, according to Daniel, makes the prices of various commodities much more expensive than other regions.

In addition, Daniel emphasized that global fluctuations, such as rising feed prices, also provide direct pressure on people's breeders so that the price of chickens and eggs is also pushed up.

Measured and data-based anticipatory policies are needed. We cannot face the same situation every year without real improvements in the field," explained the PKB legislator from the West Kalimantan I electoral district.

Furthermore, Daniel assessed that strengthening domestic food production should be a top priority. According to him, agricultural modernization, adaptive use of technology to climate change, as well as improvement of distribution infrastructure are steps that must be accelerated.

"If dependence on weather and import factors is not reduced, price stabilization will only be a tiring annual agenda. Our farmers must be strengthened, not continuously left vulnerable to weather and market fluctuations. Meanwhile, on the consumer side, the government must ensure that prices remain affordable, especially for low-income families," he said.

For this reason, Daniel ensured that Commission IV of the DPR would continue to oversee government programs so that national food policies run well and take sides with the interests of the people.

"Food stability is not only a matter of price, but also concerns social resilience, regional economic sustainability, as well as the welfare of millions of farmers and small business actors throughout Indonesia," he concluded.

As is known, the increase in the prices of basic commodities has begun to be found in Jakarta and West Java markets. For example, at the Kebayoran Lama Market, the prices of a number of commodities were creeping up ahead of Christmas and New Year. Chicken meat is sold for IDR 50,000 per kilogram, an increase of IDR 5,000 from last week.

Tomatoes also rose from IDR 15,000 to IDR 18,000 per kilogram, while curly chilies were sold for IDR 70,000 and cayenne pepper for IDR 50,000 per kilogram due to weather and increased demand.

In Bandung, price spikes have occurred since the last three weeks. Chili rose to IDR 20,000 per kilogram, and an increase also occurred in broccoli, mustard, pakcoy, and carrots. This condition shows that the increase in food prices is evenly distributed in a number of areas.