Badanas Holds Cheap Food Movement In 514 Regencies/Cities Throughout Indonesia Ahead Of Eid 2024

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) cooperates across sectors, including ministries, local governments, and food associations to hold low-cost food movements in 514 districts/cities throughout Indonesia to help meet the needs of community necessities ahead of Eid al-Fitr.

"Today, Bapanas together with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Home Affairs of SOEs in the food sector, and all existing food stakeholders and 514 regencies/cities in 38 provinces, held a low-cost food movement," said Head of Badanas Arief Prasetyo Adi in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Monday, April 1.

Arief conveyed that the cheap food movement which was carried out throughout Indonesia until April 9, 2024, was to help the community to get basic food prices according to the highest retail price (HET) set by the government.

Badanas held a low-cost food movement at the Bulog DKI Jakarta Warehouse Complex on Jalan Pelepah Raya, West Kelapa Gading, Kelapa Gading District, North Jakarta. The cheap food movement is also carried out throughout Indonesia.

"So if we look at this, it's not only in Kelapa Gading but in all regencies and cities in Indonesia. Hopefully this can help many people," said Arief.

The low-cost food movement provides a number of basic necessities including food supply stabilization rice and food prices (SPHP) for 5 kilograms (kg) which are sold at a price of Rp. 53,000, premium rice Rp. 62,000 per 5 kg, beef Rp. 105,000 per kg. Furthermore, buffalo meat Rp. 80,000 per kg, frozan kareas chicken measuring 0.8-0.9 kg for Rp. 27,000, cooking oil Rp. 14,000 per liter, rosebrand sugar Rp. 16,000 per kg, chicken eggs filled with 10 grains for Rp. 23,000. And a number of other staples.

"This needs to be done, we want to give the best to the many people. So the President's (Joko Widodo) order at the last Plenary Cabinet Meeting he (President) said that the community should enjoy this Eid well, maintain availability, also give a good price," said Arief.

Even so, Arief said that local governments also have an important role in maintaining prices and the availability of food supplies in their respective regions.

"So it's not only the Minister of Home Affairs or the Head of the Food Agency or the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture, but the entire regional government, in this case the regional leadership, Forkopimda, must also work together," said Arief.