Prices Of Basic Materials Rise Ahead Of Hari Raya, Badanas: Because We Don't Have Food Reserves

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi (Photo: Mery Handayani)

JAKARTA - The increase in the prices of basic commodities (bapok) ahead of the national religious holidays (KBKN) usually occurs. The National Food Agency (Bapanas) revealed this happened because Indonesia did not have food reserves.

As is known, Muslims are currently preparing to observe fasting or Ramadan for one month and Eid Al-Fitr 2023 in April.

Head of Badanas Arief Prasetyo Adi said that every day the prices of basic commodities always increase, this is because Indonesia does not have government food reserves (CPP).

"So why is it like that every year? Yes, because we don't have government food reserves. There is no food reserves, so that becomes urgent for us," Arief told reporters, written Tuesday, March 21.

Currently, continued Arief, the National Food Agency (Bapanas) is preparing the CPP ecosystem. This is to overcome repeated problems ahead of religious holidays.

"Indeed, until now there is no government food reserve, so the ecosystem must be built. If the ecosystem is not good, it cannot be done, it can't be done," he explained.

Therefore, according to Arief, one of the important points in building a good CPP ecosystem is cross-sectoral coordination. So far it has been an obstacle.

"It is necessary to harmonize with other ministries for funding and others, as long as we don't have reserves, it will continue like this," he said.

In addition to supply, according to Arief, food prices also need to maintain stability. For example, he said, within three months the stabilization of food prices needs to be maintained with fluctuations for changes of 0.5 to 1 percent.

"In this case, for example, we already know how many three months we need. So that's what we reserve for 3 months so that the price (of food) for 3 months can be flat. Even if there is a interest rate of 0.5 to 1 percent, from 1,000, 1 percent is only how much," he said.