Zulhas Asks The Public Not To Worry About Food Stock Ahead Of Christmas-New Year

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan /ANTARA

Coordinating Minister (Menko) for Food Zulkifli Hasan asked the entire community not to worry about food stocks because they are in a safe condition for the Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025 periods.

"We ask the public not to worry. Prices are stable, the stock of basic necessities is sufficient in the market. At the end of the year, God willing, it will be safe," said Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas at a press conference after a Limited Coordination Meeting at the Ministerial Level for Food, reported by ANTARA, Thursday, November 29.

Zulhas admitted that he had received direct reports from the Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman and the Minister of Trade Budi Santoso who reported that the food conditions were safe as well as the prices of basic commodities that were stable and under control.

"I got data from the Minister of Agriculture, from the Minister of Trade, all from the relevant ministers (food stock) is safe," said Zulhas.

Zulhas said that currently the government's rice reserve stock (CBP) in Perum Bulog's warehouse is around 2 million tons. The stock is confirmed to be safe in the face of Christmas and New Year.

"Bulog rice stock is almost 2 million tons. The same is true in the community, more than 8 million tons. So (rice stock) is safe, under control, (price) is stable," said Zulhas.

On the other hand, the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso ensured that the availability of basic necessities was available for the Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025 periods.

Budi said the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag), the Food Task Force, the Industry and Trade Office and other ministries/agencies, work together to ensure that food stocks are sufficient for year-end preparation and stable prices.

"Until the end of the year it is safe, because now there is no real price fluctuation," said Budi in Jakarta, Thursday.

However, Budi said that the government would anticipate price fluctuations in the market towards the end of the year.

Previously, the Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi stated that his party was intensifying the cheap food movement (GPM) in all regions, in order to maintain price stabilization and food availability ahead of Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025.

"Especially for this December, the National Food Agency together with local governments and food SOEs as well as other stakeholders targeted GPM 134 times in 25 districts/cities in six provinces," said Arief at the Coordination Meeting of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs which was held online in Jakarta, Saturday (23/11).

Arief said that Bapanas encourages the cheap food movement both at the center and in all regions.

GPM is held in collaboration with state-owned food and local governments through offices that handle provincial and district/city food affairs. GPM is carried out massively at strategic points, especially in areas that show the potential for price increases due to increasing demand.