Noodle And Bread Enthusiasts Be Careful, Jokowi Says The Price Could Rise Due To Ukraine-Russia War

President Jokowi gives a briefing at the 29th National Family Day Summit in Medan, Thursday, July 7/Youtube screenshot of the Presidential Secretariat

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reminded noodle and bread enthusiasts in the country to be prepared for price increases. The reason is that the price of basic commodities makes these two foods, namely wheat, increase due to the Russian-Ukrainian war.

This was conveyed by Jokowi during a briefing at the 29th National Family Day Summit in Medan, Thursday, July 7.

Initially, Jokowi revealed that wheat imports in the country reached 11 million tons. Therefore, this must be a concern for all parties because it can trigger price increases.

"Be careful that the world's food commodities are rising, all of which are mainly wheat. We also import a lot of wheat, 11 million tons of our imports," Jokowi said in a YouTube show of the Presidential Secretariat.

"It's careful. Those who like to eat bread, eating noodles can increase in price. Because of what? there is a war in Ukraine," he continued.

Jokowi said wheat production was nearly 40 percent in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. However, due to the war, they were unable to export in order to prioritize domestic needs.

In fact, to ensure this, Jokowi asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin directly. This question he asked during a visit to the two countries several times ago.

"In Ukraine alone there was a stock of wheat when I went there I asked President Zelenskyy directly how much stock there was in Ukraine. 22 million tons. It can't be sold. Then there is this new harvest, 55 million tons, which means that the stock is already 77 million tons," he said.

Meanwhile, in Russia, Jokowi said, wheat stocks reached 137 million tons. However, the entire production could not come out and caused an increase in food prices.

In fact, continued Jokowi, not a few countries in the world depend on wheat produced by Ukraine and Russia.

"In Africa and some countries in Asia have started what is called acute food shortages has started what is called famine. We must be really grateful that our country is given food whose name is rice, especially not rising, we must be very grateful," he concluded.