Hundreds of residents, dominated by mothers, attacked the cheap market held in the courtyard of the Cibubur Urban Village office, Ciracas, East Jakarta, Thursday (5/2).

Residents are very enthusiastic

They were served by officers from the Horticulture Director General for the Ministry of Agriculture, who were assisted by sub-district employees.

Cibubur Urban Village's Economy and Development Section Head, heru Kristianto explained the cheap market is the result of synergy with the Agriculture Ministry and National Food Agency (Bapanas), and is supported by Bulog and other stakeholders.

"Residents are very enthusiastic. Most are shopping for onions and garlic because the prices are expensive on the market," he expressed.

This matter was justified by the Horticulture Director General for the Ministry of Agriculture, Heny. In the market, he had prepared stocks of up to 120 kilograms of red onions and 30 kilograms of garlic.

There were three varieties of red onions sold. They were red onion types batu ijo sold for Rp 25,000 per kilogram, red onion types Bima Brebes for Rp 35,000 per kilogram, and red onion types Bima Super for Rp 45,000 per kilogram cuting garlic costs Rp 23,000 per kilogram, and the usual Rp 19,000 per kilogram.

Then also SPHP rice costs Rp 10,600 per kilogram, premium rice for Rp 14,900 per kilogram, chicken meat for Rp 34,500 per kilogram, sugar for Rp 17,000 per kilogram, chicken egg for Rp 27,500 per kilogram, frozen beef Rp 105,000 per kilogram, curly chili for Rp 10,000 per 200 grams and Rp 18,000 per half a kilo. Then also 1-liter cooking oil costs Rp 15,500 per bottle, where only 22 out of 60 bottles were sold.

"It aims to stabilize the commodity prices of the market," he explained.

Bapanas Staff, Mila added that the cheap food program has been ongoing from April 29 to May 8, 2024, in five areas of the capital. Every day, it is held in eight urban villages.

Today, it was held in Cibubur, Lubang Buaya, Duren Sawit, Kebon Baru, Rawamangun, Pancoran, and Duren Tiga urban villages, including at Mitra Tani Holtikultra Market, Minggu Market, and in Bogor, West Java.

"It aims to stabilize the prices of red onions and garlic, as the price in the market is higher because of floods in some access routes for the distribution of goods," she uttered.

One of the residents, Sumiyati (49) admitted that together with her neighbor, she visited the urban village office by walking to buy red onion and cooking oil.

"This is very helpful," she concluded.