Fastings Are Answered! Trade Minister M. Lutfi Blusukan To The Market: Some Basic Material Prices Drop

Minister of Trade, M. Lutfi when reviewing price stability in traditional markets (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Trade (Mendag) Muhammad Lutfi is said to have carried out direct monitoring of the prices of basic commodities (bapok) at Rawamangun Market, East Jakarta yesterday. During the visit, the Minister of Trade said that the availability of Bapok was adequate with an estimated affordable price.

"There are even basic goods whose prices have dropped, such as medium and premium rice, chilies, and onions," he said in a press statement quoted Friday, April 15.

According to the Trade Minister, falling prices does not mean it is good for the economy, especially business players. For example, chicken farmers who are now faced with a sloping selling price.

"Egg and chicken prices tend to fall and are expected to continue to be stable, don't drop too much to provide benefits to farmers," he said.

As for cooking oil, the Trade Minister admitted that the price tag on the market was still in the high category. Rawamangun market for bulk cooking oil is sold at a price of Rp. 16,000/kg.

"This price condition will continue to improve and it is hoped that it will be in accordance with the price determined by the government before Eid, according to the HET of IDR 14,000 / liter," he claimed.

On the same occasion, Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi said that his party would continue to control prices at the upstream to downstream levels.

"Prices at the upstream level are expected not to fall too much so that farmers and ranchers can feel good prices and until Eid we make sure stocks are stable and continue to enter Jakarta," he said.

Arief continued, based on market monitoring, beef prices tend to increase in the range of Rp. 130,000 - Rp. 140,000/kg. This increase was due to the rising prices of foreign feeders. For this reason, the supply of beef will be balanced with the supply of several other products, such as frozen meat.

“So it is certain that people will get alternatives to buy fresh beef, frozen beef, and buffalo meat. The government ensures that ahead of Eid, the price of meat will be affordable," said Arief.