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Govt vows to keep food prices stable during Ramadan
As of Friday, the price of mid-quality rice had risen nearly 10 percent year to date (ytd) to Rp 16,000 (US$1.02) per kilogram, according to data from Bank Indonesia (BI).
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A trader weaves ketupat (plaited coconut leaves used as containers to cook rice) at Rau market in Serang, Banten, on April 5, 2023. (Antara/Asep Fathulrahman)
I
ndonesians have entered Ramadan with soaring food prices amid increased demand, and economists are predicting further hikes over the next two months, but the government has sought to assure the public that it will keep staples affordable.
As of Friday, four days before Ramadan, the price of mid-quality rice had risen nearly 10 percent year to date (ytd) to Rp 16,000 (US$1.02) per kilogram, according to data from the Bank Indonesia (BI) National Strategic Food Price Information Center, just days before the start of Ramadan.
It has remained in excess of the government’s ceiling range of Rp 10,900 to Rp 11,800 per kg since last year, when the El Niño climactic phenomenon brought drought and harvest delays to parts of the country.
The price of chili peppers has risen the most this year of the key staple foods monitored by BI, up 12 percent ytd as of Friday. It was followed by eggs, up 11 percent ytd; bulk cooking oil, up 10 percent; and poultry, up 6 percent.
I Gusti Ketut Astawa, undersecretary for food availability and stabilization at the National Food Agency (Bapanas) told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the supplies of essential foods such as rice, chicken, beef, onions, shallots and chili peppers were “more than enough” to meet demand.
“We have sufficient food stocks for Ramadan, Idul Fitri and the following months,” Ketut said.
The agency expected the price of rice to fall to a “fair” level during the harvest season, which would peak in April, he said, adding that eggs should experience a similar price moderation.
