Ahead Of Ramadan, The Ministry Of Trade Maintains Supply And Stabilization Of Prices Of Basic Materials

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Ahead of Ramadan and Lebaran 2023, the government is trying to maintain the availability of supply and stabilization of basic necessities (bapok) in the community. One of them is by maintaining the commodity of shallots.

Deputy Minister of Trade (Mendag) Jerry Sambuaga said the demand for shallots would increase during Ramadan and Eid. This is because these commodities were widely consumed by the public at that moment.

"We should be grateful that the onion harvest is currently taking place which coincides with the period leading up to fasting and Eid. So, it is hoped that it can increase the supply of shallots in the people's market in order to maintain the stability of shallot prices, both at the farmer level and at the consumer level," he said in a statement quoted on Monday, March 6.

Jerry said the Ministry of Trade really appreciates the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture in providing supplies of shallots during the fasting and Eid period.

"In the future, the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to synergize and improve coordination in developing agricultural commodities for the benefit of the community," he explained.

In addition, Jerry continued, as a tangible form of the Ministry of Trade's commitment to supporting shallot commodities and other agricultural commodities, including through facilitation of the construction of the Warehouse Resion System (SRG) with the Controlled Athmosphere Storage (CAS) system, one of which is built in the Brebes area.

On this occasion, Jerry, representing the government as well as the Indonesian people, expressed his gratitude to the farmers as the national food buffer who always provide food to meet the needs and fulfillment of nutrition for the Indonesian people.

The public is also advised to give appreciation to farmers by consuming national agricultural products. That way, said Jerry, will encourage farmers to provide food for all of us.

"Not to forget, we also hope for the support of local governments and all related parties to ensure smooth distribution to maintain the availability of shallots in the people's market at affordable prices. So, people feel safe and calm in carrying out fasting and Eid al-Fitr," concluded the Deputy Minister of Trade.

For your information, Brebes Regency is the main center for national shallots with around 15,000 tons of production in March 2023. In 2022, the harvest area of shallots in Brebes Regency is 32,000 hectares or the equivalent of 384,000 tons of production with a productivity of 11.8 tons per hectare.