Anies: The Trend Of Rising Food Prices Is Getting Higher Day By Day

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan/DOK Public Relations DKI Provincial Government

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswdan acknowledged that the increase in food prices during the month of Ramadan and ahead of Eid al-Fitr continues. The price increase, said Anies, is getting higher and higher.

"Yesterday, Tuesday, we had a meeting with the TPID (Regional Inflation Control Team) regarding (food) supply. The point is that we see the upward trend (food prices) getting higher day by day," said Anies at DKI City Hall, Thursday, April 7.

Therefore, Anies said the DKI Provincial Government would take strategic and practical steps to control food availability and suppress price increases. This is done by increasing the food supply.

"We are trying to increase supply so that we can increase supply, so that prices can be more controlled. Some are under DKI control, some are outside DKI control. Now, what is under DKI control, we will try to reduce the burden on the community," said Anies.

Previously, the DKI Jakarta Maritime and Agricultural Food Security Service (KPKP) predicted that food prices in Jakarta would continue to increase during the month of Ramadan until this year's Eid al-Fitr. Ahead of Eid, the increase is between 1.39 and 40 percent.

The highest price increase is predicted for bulk cooking oil by 40.35 percent and for premium quality cooking oil, it will increase by more than 100 percent.

This is caused by the regulation of the Minister of Home Affairs which stipulates the HET of bulk cooking oil, and releases the price of premium quality cooking oil through a market mechanism.

The cause of the high price of bulk cooking oil is also due to the reduced supply of bulk cooking oil entering traditional markets. The supply that usually comes in 4 times a week has become only once a week.

Meanwhile, the lowest price increase was for large red chili commodities by 1.39 percent. Prices of horticultural commodities such as chilies and onions on Eid this year are more affordable than last year's conditions because the supply this year is quite good and the rainy season does not occur at this time.

Fresh food with the highest price increase prediction ahead of Eid al-Fitr is beef by 16.85 percent. Overall, food needs before Ramadan increased by an average of 3.33 percent and ahead of Eid an average of 7.34 percent.

There is also an increase in the highest demand ahead of Eid in chicken eggs and beef commodities by approximately 13 percent. Then, the lowest increase in demand before Eid is for rice and large chili commodities by approximately 4 percent.