Meat Stocks in Jakarta Increase Threefold Ahead of Christmas and New Year Holidays

Perumda Dharma Jaya ensures that the availability of meat ahead of Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 is safe.

We'll increase the reserve stock threefold

They are ready to increase stocks up to three times the usual based on the Jakarta Acting Governor's instructions in several coordination meetings with the Jakarta Regional Inflation Control Team (TPID).

Perumda Dharna President Director, Raditya Endra Budiman said his party always prepares a stock of meat or animal protein as a reserve for every National Religious Holiday (HBKN) celebration. However, this time, stocks have been increased from usual for maintaining the availability of animal protein from Christmas to Idul Fitri.

Here are Seribu Islands Regency's Steps to Face Christmas and New Year Holidays

"We'll increase the reserve stock threefold while taking into account the interest and needs of the community. The Acting Governor wants us to anticipate food needs in HBKN and also the issue of food crisis and inflation. So, we have to standby for stock," he expressed, Thursday (12/14).

He guaranteed that the availability of meat stocks such as beef, fish, and chicken would remain safe until Idul Fitri 2024. Based on experience in dealing with HBKN in previous years, his party had not faced limited stocks.

He went on to say that strategies were prepared to secure existing and reserve stocks, including purchasing beef directly from Australia, cooperation between regional meat producers and the private sector.

"Perumda Dharma Jaya is supported by various parties to stock meat in Jakarta. This plays a role in maintaining food security. So, I guarantee that the meat needs for beneficiaries and commercials are safe until next year's Idul Fitri.

Generally, the demand for meat during HBKN in Jakarta reached an average of 6,000 tons per month or an increase of around 10-15 percent from usual.

"The reserve meat stock currently reaches 200-300 tons and will be increased three times to 600 tons," he explained.

Jakarta Maritime, Agriculture, and Food Security Agency (KPKP) Head, Suharini Eliawati confirmed that there was an instruction from the Acting Governor to increase food stocks threefold for Christmas needs until Idul Fitri next year. She asseased, specifically the stock of beef and chicken was in sufficient condition, thus the prices of both remained stable.

"Yes, and it has been followed up by Perumda Dharma Jaya, PT Food Station Tjipinang Jaya and Perumda Pasar Jaya. Food availability stocks until the end of 2023 are in sufficient condition," she explained.

She went on to say that the direction was to increase food stocks threefold, because of Christmas and New Year holidays, followed by a political year which saw many campaigns leading to presidential, legislative, and regional head elections.

"Then in March 2024, we will enter the month of Ramadan and Idul Fitri in April. It also needs to be anticipated after the El Nino period. Then now the rainy season has entered so the distribution is not smooth. If the stock is usually for five days, it will be increased to 10 days. It has been done by Perumda Dharma Jaya, PT Food Station Tjipinang Jaya, and Perumda Pasar Jaya," she continued.

She added Perumda Dharma Jaya was asked to utilize existing cold storage to fill it with as much meat stock as possible. The need for chicken and beef meat will increase by 2.5 to three percent during HBKN from normal daily meat requirements which reach 65-70 tons per day.

"To meet meat stocks, it is important to strengthen cooperation between meat producing regions," she added.

She urged people did not panic buy, as food stocks in the city of Jakarta were safe, even though there was a spike in demand during Christmas and New Year holidays.

"At the end of this year, the condition of our strategic foods will be in relatively good condition, such as rice, eggs, chilies, onions and garlic, sugar, cooking oil, chicken and beef. So, people shouldn't panic buy, as stock is safe, but there is a surge in demand because of Christmas and New Year holidays. That's bound to happen," she stated.