Medan DPRD Asks Bobby Nasution To Ensure Availability Of Basic Foods During Ramadan

ILLUSTRATION VIA BETWEEN

MEDAN - Deputy Chairman of the Medan City DPRD Rajudin Sagala asked the Medan City Government, North Sumatra, to maintain the availability of various basic ingredients in this year's holy month of Ramadan.

"In regencies/cities, this includes the Food Security Service. It must ensure that basic commodities are available on the market before and during Ramadan," said Rajudin in Medan, quoted by Antara, Monday, March 28.

The Medan City Government, he continued, must also intensively monitor the smooth distribution and prices of basic commodities on the market, both traditional and modern markets.

In addition, the Medan City Food Task Force is also asked to periodically evaluate the availability, distribution and prices of basic commodities, such as rice, cooking oil, granulated sugar, beef, chicken and eggs.

The latest data from the Medan City Food Security Service states that the availability of staple food includes 33,059 tons of rice, 21,896 tons/month needs and a price of Rp 12,000/kg.

The availability of cooking oil is 2,238 tons, the need is 1,826 tons/month and the price is Rp. 18,000/kg, the availability of granulated sugar is 10,000 tons, the need is 1,455 tons/month and the price is Rp. 14,000/kg.

"The basic materials must be available, the goods are there and the stock is sufficient, so they don't raise prices arbitrarily. Moreover, they stockpile," said Rajudin.

Wati (40), a roadside rice stall trader in Medan, admitted that various basic commodities in traditional markets are still fluctuating ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan this year.

"Today, cut chicken is sold for Rp. 29,000 from the previous Rp. 35,000/kg, red chilies from Rp. 30,000 from Rp. 42,000/kg and cayenne pepper from Rp. 45,000 from Rp. 40,000/kg," he said.