Trade Minister Zulhas: Beware Of Surges In Demand Ahead Of Eid Al-Fitr

Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan said that in general, ahead of Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Fitr 2024, prices for basic necessities (bapok) tend to decrease and be stable.

This statement was conveyed by Zulhas at the Food Supply Security Alert Ceremony Ahead of Eid Al-Fitr 2024, in Jakarta, Monday, April 1.

Entering the 21st day of Ramadan, Alhamdulillah, the price of bapok tends to turn. I almost tap in the morning to the market and the trend of bapok prices has started to fall," he said.

However, Zulhas, as Zulkifli Hasan is familiarly called, asked all parties to remain aware of the surge in demand during Lebaran and post-Lebaran.

"I have faced Eid al-Fitr and other National Religious Holidays (HBKN) several times, Alhamdulillah it is smooth. However, as a big country, there are some that are still quite high," he said.

"Therefore, we remain vigilant because these weeks demand will increase due to Eid. After Eid, we also need to be aware because many are going home and on vacation," he continued.

In addition, Zulhas also asked regional heads to pay attention to the distribution of bapok so that price stability is maintained.

Not only high, but low prices are also considered because if farmers lose too cheap. Therefore, regional heads need to pay attention to distribution so that cheap prices are not too cheap and high ones are not too high. Thank you to all parties. Hopefully this year's Eid can run smoothly and all parties are happy," he said.

Previously, it was reported that the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan revealed that the price of local rice in the market had begun to gradually decline. In fact, the decline has reached Rp. 3,000 per kilogram (kg).

"In some areas the price has started to fall. In Java, local rice has decreased, there are between Rp. 3,000 to Rp. 1,000 (per kg)," he said at an assembly on standby for supply security and food prices ahead of Eid Al-Fitr 2024, quoted from YouTube. Badanas, Monday, April 1.

Furthermore, Zulhas, as Zulkifli Hasan is familiarly called, said that the decline in rice prices occurred in line with the entry of the peak of the harvest season. Meanwhile, based on records, it is predicted that this time the rice harvest is 3.8 million tons.

"The production rice in the last few months is high above demand, so that also some areas of prices have started to fall," he said.

In addition to rice prices, Zulhas said that the price of broiler meat also decreased. Even the price decrease reached Rp. 2,000 per kg.

"Chinese meat is still at IDR 40,000 (per kg), but (down) from IDR 42,000. Maybe these days it will also go down soon because the feed price has started to be good," he explained.