Overcoming Inflation In Kupang Affected By Food Commodities, BI NTT Calls The Need To Monitor Prices And Market Operations

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

KUPANG - Bank Indonesia (BI) Representative for East Nusa Tenggara Province said that the increase in inflation in Kupang City was triggered by an increase in the price of free-range chicken, mackerel, and vegetables.

"The increase in inflation in the city of Kupang was more due to the increase in the prices of a number of food commodities so that inflation was higher," said Acting Head of Bank Indonesia Representative for East Nusa Tenggara Province, S. Donny H Heatubun, as quoted by Antara, Sunday 20 November.

He explained that in October 2022 the City of Kupang experienced inflation of 0.37 percent, which was sloping compared to the previous month.

Even so, he said inflation in Kupang City was higher than NTT and national inflation, mainly driven by increases in several food commodities such as purebred chicken, mackerel and chicory vegetables.

According to him, gasoline also contributed to inflation in October in line with the base effect due to the increase in gasoline prices which took effect on September 3, 2022.

He explained that the price of soap and several other household needs also experienced inflation along with the increase in distribution costs.

He explained that there are several steps that need to be taken to control inflation, namely monitoring prices and market operations, optimizing smooth distribution, reducing the cost of transporting goods or services by subsidizing freight costs.

He added that apart from that, it is necessary to ensure the availability of food, provide social assistance to vulnerable communities and strengthen coordination between TPID and TPIP.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Bureau of Economics and Cooperation at the Regional Secretariat of East Nusa Tenggara Province, Lery Rupidara, explained that the extra effort to control inflation came from the local wisdom of the local government which knows what its people are like.

Thus, according to him, steps can be taken that are in accordance with the real conditions of society.

In addition to urban farming, there needs to be a moral movement to make savings, both the use of fuel oil such as walking movements and using public transportation, as well as food loss and waste social movements by reducing events that result in the accumulation of commodity needs and affect stocks.

Inflation control, according to him, is also related to 4K, namely stock availability, smooth distribution, affordable prices and effective communication that doesn't make residents panic.