Ahead Of Ramadan, The Government Holds Cheap Market Operations At 325 Post Offices

Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - The government cooperates with state-owned enterprises (BUMN) to hold low-cost food market operations to stabilize the prices of basic needs of the community ahead of the Religious and National Holidays (HBKN) of Fasting and Eid Al-Fitr 2025.

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman said the prices of a number of commodities were sold below the highest retail price (HET) through this market operation. Where, the operation of the cheap food market was held at 325 points of the Indonesian Post Office.

The operation of this cheap market will take place from today, Monday, February 24, 2025 to March 29, 2025. Food ingredients sold at the Post Office are provided by food SOEs, starting from Perum Bulog, PT RNI, PTPN, PT Berdikari, and PT PPI.

"HETs, especially rice, meat, cooking oil (Minyakita), sugar, chicken, eggs, garlic, shallots, chilies and so on should not be above HET," Amran said in the launching of the cheap food market operation at the Flora Post Office, Jalan Fatmawati, Jakarta, Monday, February 24.

Furthermore, Amran said, this cheap market operation is a strategic step in maintaining price stability and food availability ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

"We appreciate the support of PosIND in providing food distribution locations, so that people can easily obtain basic needs at affordable prices," he said.

Meanwhile, the President Director of PosIND, Faizal R. Djoemadi explained that PosIND's involvement in market operations is a form of commitment in supporting price stability. As well as ensuring food availability.

"We will take advantage of our infrastructure and logistical capabilities to support the smooth operation of this market, so that people can obtain food at a reasonable price ahead of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr 2025," he said.

Director of Courier and Logistics Business of PT Pos Indonesia (Persero) Tonggo Marbun said the 325 points consist of 215 points in Java and 110 outside Java.

"Today we are preparing, but because the time is very short, there are limitations of providers to distribute to these points," he said.

Even so, he said, in the future the target of opening a low-cost food market operation could be more than 4,000 points from the Indonesian Post Office.

However, he said, the closest target of market operations could be held at 1,000 Post Office points at the beginning of Ramadan.

"So it will continue gradually, maybe 1 Ramadan will increase by 1,000 to 2,000 and then until the end of Ramadan, hopefully, it can gradually increase again according to the expectations of the Minister of 4,000," he said.