Launching The Cheap Food Movement, The Food Agency Asks People Not To Panic Ahead Of Eid Al-Adha

Head of Badanas Arief Prastyo (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA The government officially launched a cheap market titled the National Cheap Food Movement (GPM). This movement is intended to maintain the availability of basic foodstuffs and people's purchasing power for food commodities ahead of the Religious and National Holidays (HBKN) Eid al-Adha.

This cheap market was held simultaneously on June 26, 2023, at 342 location points spread across 301 regencies/cities in Indonesia. The activity was initiated by the National Food Agency (NFA) in collaboration with related Ministries/Institutions and associations.

This cheap market provides various basic food needs to sell at affordable prices or below market prices. A number of these commodities include rice, chicken eggs, chilies, onions, garlic, chicken meat, beef, sugar, cooking oil, as well as various vegetables and fruits.

Head of NFA Arief Prasetyo Adi said that through this simultaneous GPM activity, people, especially those around the implementing districts/cities, can get quality basic food needs at affordable prices.

Every time before HBKN, continued Arief, his party always increases the intensity of the implementation of the Cheap Food Movement, like today before Eid al-Adha. This step is to anticipate the surge in demand and public consumption.

Not only that, said Arief, this simultaneous cheap pasae movement is also to control national inflation, which is currently sloping as of May 2023 at 4.00 years on year.

"It is hoped that through a wide affordable food supply, people's needs will be met, purchasing power will be maintained, and inflation in June can be controlled and will continue to decline again," he said in an official statement, Monday, June 26.

Arief admitted that he deliberately launched this National Simultaneous GPM on D-3 before Eid al-Adha. Because, according to him, this is the ideal time for people to buy food needs, especially for holidays.

All food products sold here are below market prices or do not exceed the Purchase/Sales Reference Price (HAP) and the Highest Retail Price (HET) that has been set. This is in accordance with the initial objective of implementing the GPM, which is to provide affordable food for the community," explained Arief.

Safe Food Stock

Regarding food readiness ahead of Eid al-Adha, Arief ensured that all strategic food commodities were in a safe condition. The public is advised not to worry and panic, and to continue to shop for basic needs wisely.

"Food stock conditions are available and sufficient to meet the needs of public consumption. We thank you for the support of all food stakeholders and the community so that the NFA program in maintaining the availability and stability of food prices ahead of Eid al-Adha runs according to plan," he said.

Arief added that the safety of food conditions ahead of Eid al-Adha cannot be separated from the continued boost in the implementation of other stabilization programs.

Such as the Facilitation of Food Distribution (FDP), the distribution of Government Rice Reserves (CBP) in BULOG for SPHP rice and rice food rocks to 21.3 million Beneficiary Families (KPM), distribution of food assistance for eggs and chicken meat to 1.4 million Families Prone to Stunting (KRS).

Then, food procurement that has the potential for a measurable deficit, as well as periodic monitoring of stock and price conditions through the dashboard in real time, thus accelerating food fluctuation interventions in the regions.

"The strategic program to maintain stock stabilization and food prices optimizes cooperation between regions, as directed by President Joko Widodo, which emphasizes strengthening synergies to secure national food. We also ensure that the food stabilization program will continue to be implemented outside the HBKN until the end of the year," he said.