Jakarta Collaborates to Ensure Safe Food Stock During Ramadan

The Jakarta Government is committed to maintaining a calm, safe, and comfortable situation in Jakarta during Ramadan.

We see firsthand the conditions in the field to ensure food stock availability

Therefore, they collaborated with Jakarta Regional Inflation Control Team (TPID), Food Task Force, Bank Indonesia, Bulog, Polda Metro Jaya, and three BUMDs in food sectors to ensure food availability during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

Jakarta Maritime, Agriculture, and Food Security (KPKP) Agency Head Suharini Eliawati stated the Government ensured the availability of food stock and supply, as well as maintained price stability by monitoring strategic food stocks and prices, monitoring food warehouses, providing subsidized foods, cheap markets, bazaars and securing food stocks for Ramadan.

Cikoko Residents Enjoy Subsidized Staple Foods amid Skyrocketing Prices

"Because the current Ramadan is quite unique, where the COVID-19 pandemic situation begins to recover, but globally there is a conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It causes a decrease in supply and an increase in prices, especially when demand increases during Ramadan. We hope the Government's efforts and the support from other parties in securing food stocks and supplies can maintain solemn worship thus residents can perform activities comfortably and safely during Ramadan," she said as quoted from PPID Press Release, Friday (4/8).

Seeing that, the Governor wanted the Government to always open up opportunities to collaborate with various parties. That was with several provinces for food supply, including Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, DI Yogyakarta, Bali, NTB, NTT, East Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, West Sumatra, Riau with commodities of rice, chicken, beef, eggs, chili, onion, and sugar.

It could be monitored in two ways by involving TPID and Food Task Force. The first was to set up a Digital Price Monitoring Platform called Jakarta Food Info (IPJ) that provided information on updated daily food prices for 37 commodities from 48 markets. People could also get information on food prices at JakPangan feature in JAKI super app.

"In this platform, people can directly monitor the updated strategic food prices. Through the information, the Government can immediately take action if there is a significant price increase," she stated.

The second was the Jakarta TPID to hold weekly meetings to monitor the prices of food and other important goods and anticipate things to control prices.

In addition, the Jakarta KPKP Agency also calculated the prediction of community food needs through analysis of Food Material Balance (NBM) and built the Food Security Information System (SIKP) which contained information on food stocks and prices at the distributor, consumer, and producer levels.

"People can get affordable and quality food at 121 Pasar Jaya outlets, Meat Shop Dharma Jaya, and Cipinang Rice Central Market. The Government has collaborated with Polda Metro Jaya to take action against individuals who hoard food," she explained.

The Government was also routinely providing guidance and supervision to business actors to ensure the quality and safety of food circulating in Jakarta.

Food safety supervision carried out by the Government included fresh food and processed food from agricultural, livestock, and fishery commodities. Food inspection is also carried out in traditional markets, supermarkets, online shops, fostered locations, wholesale markets, and production centers.

Anticipating high demand for food during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, the market visit was also conducted on March 29 by Jakarta Council (DPRD) to Kramat Jati Central Market, Perumda Pasar Jaya Warehouse, Perumda Dharma Jaya Warehouse, PT Food Station Warehouse, and on March 30 by Jakarta TPID to Kramat Jati Market.

“Market visit is conducted to monitor food stock and food price fluctuation. We see firsthand the conditions in the field to ensure food stock availability," she explained.

Moreover, TPID Jakarta's High-Level Meeting (HLM) was also held on Tuesday (5/4) which emphasized the readiness of the Government in securing food stocks during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

This coordination was led by Jakarta Governor and attended by the Head of Bank Indonesia Representative Office for Jakarta Province, Head of Regional I Financial Services Authority for Jakarta and Banten, Head of Bulog for Jakarta Banten Region, Head of Sub-Directorate for Economic Affairs, Directorate of Intelkam Polda Metro Jaya, and President Directors of three BUMDs in the food sector, namely Perumda Pasar Jaya, Perumda Dharma Jaya, and PT. Food Station Tjipinang Jaya.

"In the future, we will continue to carry out monitoring and supervision. Therefore, we urge the public to remain calm in the month of Ramadan, there is no need to panic and remain optimistic in order to maintain the balance of existing food stocks and supplies," she said.