BI And TPID Lampung Keep Price Stability Ahead Of Ramadan 2024

Head of BI Representative for Lampung Province, Junanto Herdiawan. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Lampung Province Bank Indonesia (BI) Representative Office and the local Regional Inflation Control Team (TPID) continue to strive to maintain price stability ahead of the month of Ramadan 1445 Hijri.

"The price of a number of commodities has increased, especially rice and chili. Therefore, we will try to maintain price stability," said Head of BI Representative for Lampung Province, Junanto Herdiawan, in his statement, in Bandarlampung, quoted from Antara, Monday, March 4.

According to him, the increase in rice prices was driven by a decline in supply in line with the shift in the planting period due to El Nino in 2023 which had implications for the postponement of the harvest period.

In addition, he continued, the scarcity of rice stocks in a number of modern markets has also affected the increase in rice prices.

Meanwhile, the increase in the price of various chilies was caused by a decrease in supply in a number of production centers, namely Tulang Bawang Barat, South Lampung, and Pringsewu due to fungi and pest attacks during the rainy season. In addition, the increase in the price of various chilies in Lampung was also influenced by the increase in the price of cayenne pepper from Sukabumi, West Java as one of the main suppliers of chilies for Lampung Province.

Junanto explained that there were four strategies that were pursued in an effort to maintain price stability, namely the first price affordability by continuing rice/SPHP market operations until prices fell again until the highest retail price (HET).

Then, monitor prices and supply for certain commodities such as commodities that need to be watched out for, the price increases: rice, chicken eggs, shallots, red chilies, cayenne pepper, cooking oil, and sugar.

Then commodities that are relatively well maintained, but still have a risk of rising prices such as garlic and chicken meat.

The two supply availability is by strengthening and expanding cooperation between regions (KAD) intra Lampung Province, especially for commodities that are often volatile in cities.

Furthermore, coordinating with the Agriculture and Food Security Service to accelerate rice planting, optimize the role of dams, distribute seeds that are quite resistant to drought, and distribute tractors/alsintan.

The three smooth distributions ensure smooth transportation for adequacy of capacity and the number of modes of transportation to maintain traffic transportation for goods and humans.

"Strengthening transportation capacity by increasing the volume of Lampung Jakarta flights, expanding the Lampung Bali flight route, and operationalizing the executive dock of Bakauheni Port," said Junanto.

Then continue efforts to accelerate the improvement of district/city and rural roads that are traversed by food goods transportation, strengthening coordination between regional and district/city apparatus organizations in order to follow up on Circular Letter Number 23 of 2024 concerning the supervision and control of the distribution of grain.

And the fourth is effective communication by conducting formal coordination meetings, carried out routinely every week, and informally, through WhatsApp groups, in order to maintain TPID Lampung awareness related to the latest price and supply dynamics.

"We are also strengthening the synergy of communication with the media and the public in order to avoid wholesale action behavior," added Junanto.