Ministry Of Trade: Sufficient Food Supply For Fasting And Eid 2023

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

Acting Director General of Domestic Trade of the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) Kasan said that rice commodities experienced a surplus of around 9 million tons, cooking oil had a surplus of around 352 thousand tons, and beef had a surplus of around 58 thousand tons in the January-April 2023 period.

With this figure, the Ministry of Trade ensures that in general the supply of food for the needs of the community for the period of fasting and Eid has sufficient amount.

"Based on the National Food Agency's Food Balance, in general, food supply is available in sufficient quantities to meet the needs of fasting and Eid," said Kasan, quoted from Antara, Friday, March 10.

Kasan said the government continues to strive to maintain price stability and food supply to the community with sufficient amount and affordable prices, especially ahead of the 2023 Fasting and Eid Religious and National Holidays (HBKN) period.

Furthermore, the strategy carried out by the Ministry of Trade to reduce the price and supply of foodstuffs ahead of fasting and Eid is to streamline food supply chains in supporting equitable sustainable development.

Some of the efforts made by the Ministry of Trade to realize this include improving and expanding the trade distribution network between islands and utilizing maritime outlets and increasing the reach and quality of basic material data in the Ministry of Trade's Basic Needs Market Monitoring System (SP2KP) with the help of regional stakeholders reported in real-time.

The Ministry of Trade also provides trade education facilitators through the Electronic System and digitizing people's markets and micro, small and medium enterprises (DMKM).

"In addition, ahead of the period of fasting and Eid al-Fitr, in early March 2023 the Ministry of Trade has carried out a Working Meeting together with the Provincial and Regency/City Trade Offices throughout Indonesia, one of which is to discuss the preparation of the supply chain for basic goods ahead of fasting and Eid," said Kasan.

At the end of February, the Ministry of Trade imported sugar, meat, rice, garlic, soybeans to DOC broilers for chicken meat to meet basic food needs during the period of fasting month and Eid 2023.

The Ministry of SOEs through the Food SOE Holding or ID FOOD also imports 237,575 tons of sugar and 100 thousand tons of beef.

Meanwhile, Bulog at the end of February brought in 13,500 tons of imported rice from Thailand, so that in total, the stock available in Bulog's warehouse is currently around 20,000 tons.