“We guarantee that all stocks are secure and we hope there will be no significant price increase,” he said after attending a meeting on food prices at the Trade Ministry in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Basic commodity prices tend to increase during Ramadhan because people usually have different meals to break their fast.

Enggartiasto said the ministry led by its domestic trade director general, Tjahya Widayanti, would cooperate with the National Police to ensure that there would be no disruption in food distribution.

The ministry, in particularly, would look closely at the distribution of rice, which increased in price late last year, the minister said.

“As of April 1, all rice merchants must have medium rice and sell it at ceiling prices. If they don’t have the stock, Bulog (the National Logistics Agency) can supply them with the commodity,” Enggartiasto added.

The government has set a ceiling price for medium-quality rice according to region: Rp 9,450 (70 US cents) per kilogram in Java, Lampung, South Sumatra, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and Sulawesi; Rp 9,950 in the rest of Sumatra, Kalimantan and East Nusa Tenggara and Rp 10,250 in Maluku and Papua.

Meat prices would also be monitored, said Eanggartiasto, adding that the ministry would only issue meat import permits for those who sell it at Rp 80,000/kg. (kmt/bbn)

Popular

Volcano erupts in North Sulawesi, hundreds evacuated

Dubai roads, airport reel from floods after record rains

Ramadan boosts consumer confidence, retail sales