Maintaining Food Stability During Ramadan, Real Evidence of Government’s Partisanship for the Community
By: Gita Sari Rahayu )*
Maintaining food price stability during the holy month of Ramadan until Eid 2025 is the government’s main priority. Various strategic steps have been prepared to ensure the availability of food at prices that remain affordable for the entire community. This strong commitment proves the government’s real commitment to the people in ensuring welfare during fasting and welcoming Eid al-Fitr.
The government has established a strategy to control the main food prices through strict supervision in the market and the implementation of market operations. The main focus is on commodities that are most needed by the community, such as cooking oil and sugar. If there is a price spike, direct intervention is immediately implemented to stabilize prices to ensure that people’s purchasing power is maintained.
Strict instructions came directly from President Prabowo Subianto who mandated all ministries and related institutions to collaborate in monitoring food prices so that they remain below the Highest Retail Price (HET).
Deputy for Coordination of Information and Evaluation of Communications of the Presidential Communications Office, Fritz Edward Siregar, emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture together with the Ministry of SOEs have worked together to ensure that food commodity prices remain under control. In conditions where price fluctuations are unavoidable, the relevant ministries and SOEs will move quickly to support price stabilization in the field.
The concrete steps that have been agreed upon in the coordination meeting involve various State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in the Cheap Food Movement market operation. The intervention provided is not only in the form of price subsidies, but also optimization of SOE assets that can be used as market operation outlets. In addition, support in the form of food distribution is also emphasized so that smooth supply is maintained throughout Indonesia.
Full commitment to maintaining food prices is not only the task of the central government, but is also supported by various other stakeholders. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized the government’s firm stance against entrepreneurs who try to take advantage by raising prices above the HET.
Strict action in the form of sealing to revoking business licenses will be applied to parties who do not comply with the regulations that have been set. This assertiveness is a guarantee for the public so that they are not burdened by unreasonable price spikes during the month of Ramadan.
The determination of the HET for Minyakita cooking oil of IDR 15,700 per liter is a reference price that must be adhered to by business actors. However, the price realization in the field still shows a figure of IDR 17,500 per liter.
The Minister of Agriculture emphasized that efforts to reduce prices will continue to be carried out so that the public can obtain cooking oil at prices that are in accordance with regulations. Strict supervision is applied so that no business actors try to manipulate prices for personal gain.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Trade also plays an important role in ensuring price stability through the implementation of massive market operations. Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri said that market operations are a real form of the government’s commitment to guaranteeing the community’s food needs.
This step is not only aimed at lowering prices, but also as a response to complaints from the public, especially housewives who face challenges in meeting kitchen needs during the fasting month and approaching Eid.
The synergy between various government agencies with BUMN and other stakeholders further strengthens the effectiveness of the policies that have been formulated. This joint effort ensures that all levels of society can still obtain food at reasonable prices, without being burdened by uncontrolled price increases. The government is not only reacting to price fluctuations, but has implemented a preventive strategy to anticipate potential price spikes in the future.
The government’s commitment to the people can be seen from the concrete steps that have been implemented in controlling food prices. The presence of market operations in various regions and strict supervision of business actors’ compliance show that the government is not sitting idly by in ensuring the welfare of the community.
The firmness in taking action against those who violate the rules further strengthens the belief that food price stability will continue to be maintained during the month of Ramadan until the Eid celebrations.
