Deputy Minister Claims President Prabowo Often Calls Ministers Check Food Prices

Gerindra Party politician and Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan), Sudaryono. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto routinely checks basic food prices and strategic food, especially in the days leading up to Eid which is expected to be held on March 31, 2025.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan) Sudaryono admitted that almost every day the President calls his ministers and deputy ministers to ask for the latest information regarding food prices.

"Almost every day I call several ministers or deputy ministers, including me, the Coordinating Minister for Food, it asks about the price of basic necessities, he is very concerned," said the Deputy Minister when met at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Friday, March 21, quoted by Antara.

Sudaryono then explained that food prices tended to be stable during the period of Ramadan this year, because the stock was also maintained.

"Unlike the previous years, for example there was a significant spike," said the Deputy Minister.

He continued that several commodities whose prices were high, for example chilies, began to fall, while rice prices, cooking oil, sugar, shallots, garlic and chicken were believed to be still affordable for the community.

"Indeed, in this fasting month, and Eid, we will ask all these stocks to flood the market. So, wherever people buy, going to supermarkets, minimarkets, traditional markets, to neighboring stalls, there must be that item," said the Deputy Minister.

In addition, the government is also aggressively carrying out market operations in regional trade offices, agricultural hall offices, and 4,800 post offices throughout Indonesia.

"We have 2,818 (market operations locations), we hope that by Eid, the target will be at 4,000 outlets, we can open it at 4,000 post office branches throughout Indonesia. Hopefully again after Eid, this post office will not be closed, (selling) the basic necessities will continue," said Sudaryono.

The National Strategic Food Price Information Center (PIHPS) as of 21 Friday 2025 shows that the average price of chili starts to fall when compared to the previous days, especially for large types of red chilies, the price is IDR 54,300 per kilogram, the average price of green cayenne pepper is IDR 61,450 per kilogram, curly red chilies IDR 54,850 per kg, and red cayenne pepper IDR 88,450 per kg.

Meanwhile, rice prices tend to remain in the range of Rp. 13,850 per kilogram to Rp. 16,750 per kilogram, then the price of cooking oil is in the range of Rp. 18,800 per kilogram to Rp. 22,250 per kilogram.