JAKARTA - The government has imported several commodities to meet national food stocks during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2021. Head of the Food Security Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture Agung Hendriadi said the importation also aims to ensure the stability of selling prices in the Indonesian market.
Furthermore, Agung said a number of commodities imported to ensure stable prices are soybeans, garlic, beef or buffalo to granulated sugar.
"There are some commodities that are partially filled from imports such as garlic, buffalo beef and also granulated sugar," he said in a virtual discussion 'Food Availability Ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr', Monday, April 12.
Until May 2021, said Agung, the supply of imported garlic is targeted at 202 thousand tons. Meanwhile, the supply of beef and buffalo 111 thousand tons and sugar 700 thousand tons. Agung assessed that the volume was sufficient for the average needs of the community until the upcoming Eid al-Fitr.
"Our target is to enter until May and will be met. We are optimistic", he said.
Based on the National Strategic Staple Food Availability and Needs Prognose for the period January to May 2021, the estimated availability of the three commodities is garlic at 351,720 tons with a need of 243,655 tons, beef/buffalo of 278,615 tons with the need of 280,140 tons, while the availability of granulated sugar of 1.73 million tons and the need for 1.21 million tons.
Furthermore, Agung asserted, the government does not provide barriers to food supply that is needed additional imports. He said, technical import licensing and arrival schedule has also been arranged by the Ministry of Trade along with importers.
"This has all been determined through a coordination meeting with the Minister of Trade (Muhammad Lutfi) and The Minister of Economy (Airlangga Hartarto)", he said.
Agung said food control efforts had been made months before entering the month of Ramadan. Meanwhile, food supplies that can be produced in the country have been mobilized in addition to ensuring food imports are included as scheduled.
The ministry, Agung said, also continues to conduct regular monitoring throughout the region every week. That way, the symptoms of price increases seen in the data can be resolved quickly. Furthermore, faster anticipation from the government can prevent food scarcity that could create major turmoil in the country.
"We keep from scarcity. We avoid that because we don't want to be like firefighters, there's a new price increase", he said.
Not only imported foodstuffs, Agung also said that the supply of other foodstuffs is safe during the fasting month until the eve of Eid al-Fitr is safe.
"Rice, corn, soybeans, garlic, shallots, assorted chili peppers, meat, chicken, eggs, cooking oil and granulated sugar are all in sufficient national condition, people do not have to worry", he said.
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