Badanas Calls The GPM Onion Red Program A Commitment To The Presence Of The Government In Stabilizing Food Prices

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) said that the Cheap Food Movement (GPM) program for shallot commodities is a commitment to the government's presence in providing and stabilizing food prices, which are affordable to the public.

"According to the direction of the Head of the National Food Agency, we are holding GPMs, especially shallots, in responding to prices, which in the last two weeks have increased quite high. This is a form of government presence to the public to provide basic foodstuffs at a cheaper and more affordable price," said the Director of Food Supply Stabilization (SPHP) Maino Dwi Hartono in his statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Saturday, May 4.

Maino conveyed that GPM as one of the national food stabilization instruments is continuously carried out by the government together with all stakeholders in the food sector.

He said that Bapanas together with a number of food stakeholders held GPM shallots from April 29 to May 8, 2024 at 63 points in the Jakarta area and two Mitra Tani Horticulture (PMTH) markets to reduce the fluctuations in the price of shallots after Eid.

"This is a collaboration between Badanas and the Ministry of Agriculture, the Jakarta Provincial Government, BUMN, BUMD, and the Red Bawang Champion assisted by the Ministry of Agriculture," said Maino.

He mentioned that apart from shallots, GPM also provides other basic needs.

"People can visit the GPM that we hold. This is still until May 8. Of course, in addition to shallots, people can also buy other food commodities such as rice, chicken eggs, curly red chilies, red cayenne pepper, and cooking oil," said Maino.

The trend in the price of shallots in the past week has decreased. Based on the Panel of Food Prices for Bapanas as of April 29 to May 2, 2024, the national average price of shallots is IDR 50,830 per kg or decreased compared to the previous week which was IDR 52,920 per kg.

Maino also mentioned that at GPM, the shallots prepared were ijo stone varieties which were sold at a price of Rp. 25,000 per kg, bima brebes Rp. 35,000 per kg, and brebes super Rp. 40,000 per kg.

Then, garlic is Rp. 19,000 per 0.5 kg and links are Rp. 23,000 per 0.5 kg. There are also curly red chilies of Rp. 28,000 per 0.5 kg, red cayenne peppers of Rp. 18,000 per 0.5 kg, and chicken eggs of Rp. 28,000 per kg.

In addition, Long Grain Food Station (FS) rice packaging 5 kg Rp69,500, 4 kg packaging Rp55,500, and 2.5 kg packaging Rp33,000.

Then FS white crystal sugar packaging Rp. 17,000 per kg, wheat flour Rp. 12,000 per kg, and cooking oil brand Kita Rp. 14,000.

Furthermore, 5 kg SPHP rice packaging Rp. 58,000, premium rice brand Sukanasi packaging 5 kg Rp. 72,000, Rizki brand cooking oil Rp. 14,000, and sugar brand Gulavit Rp. 17,000.

For the total turnover during the implementation of GPM during April 29, 30, and May 2, it has reached around Rp363 million.

Furthermore, Maino said, as released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), in April 2024 inflation, shallots experienced the highest monthly inflationary pressure of up to 30.75 percent with a 0.14 percent stake.

"This is because of the flood disaster at the center of shallot producers in Central Java, thus providing stock disruption at the consumer level," he explained.

However, added Maino, other strategic food commodities such as red chilies experienced a deflation of 26.29 percent, cayenne pepper deflation 12.82 percent, chicken eggs deflation 5.80 percent, and rice deflation 2.72 percent.