The Ministry Of Trade Ensures The Stock Of Basic Needs Is Safe, So Do Not Have To Panic Buying

Minister of Trade, Agus Suparmanto. (Photo: Twitter @Mendag)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) ensures that the food supply is sufficient to meet the needs of the community ahead of Eid Al-Fitr or Eid. So, it is hoped that the community does not need to worry.

Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto said trading activities in traditional markets and modern retail continued to operate normally while adhering to the protocol for preventing transmission of the corona virus or COVID-19. Even so, he asked, people do not shop excessively or panic buying.

"Still, don't panic buying and shop as necessary because I guarantee that all the goods are available in sufficient quantities at affordable prices," he said in a video conference with reporters, Thursday, May 14.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hatarto said, ahead of Lebaran for several food commodities the prices were fixed or stable. Even if there is an increase or decrease in price it is not significant.

Airlangga explained that there are several commodities that receive special attention, such as sugar and onions. The price of white sugar in the market reaches IDR 17,000 - IDR 17,500, it should be IDR 12,500. Meanwhile, the price of onions is around IDR 51,950 per kilogram (Kg), whereas the reference is IDR 32,000.

"Regarding the price of sugar, there are several imports that are scheduled to be delayed, because there are several countries that have implemented a lockdown. However, we will also divert refined sugar to the market, so the price will be pushed down," he said.

Furthermore, Airlangga said, based on existing data for garlic, the import plan had already entered the field. Meanwhile, for shallots there is no plan for imports.

"Because (onions) there are areas in Indonesia that are capable of large production," he said.

According to Airlangga, in April 2020, based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), there was food deflation of 0.13 percent, and this shows that demand is decreasing. However, food inflation in April 2020, which amounted to 5.04 percent, was higher than inflation in the same period last year which was 2.29 percent.

"So, this is a distribution problem that needs to be pushed (from production centers to consumers). I also want to remind (people) who take advantage of the situation (increasing food prices) have been monitored by the Food Task Force, including the issue of sugar auctions," he said.