Government Ensures Food Stock and Prices Are Safe During Ramadan
By: Rahmat Hadi
The government continues to ensure that food availability ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2025 remains stable with stable prices. Various steps have been prepared to ensure sufficient food supply and affordable prices for the community. One of the efforts made is through the Cheap Food Movement (GPM), which will be held nationally from February 24 to the end of March 2025.
The procurement of market operations through GPM aims to ensure that food prices are below the Highest Retail Price (HET), so that people can carry out Ramadan worship without being burdened by price spikes. The government is working with BUMN and the private sector so that basic necessities can be obtained at more controlled prices.
As part of the price stabilization strategy, the government has instructed all related agencies at the central and regional levels to support the smooth running of this market operation. The Minister of Agriculture who also serves as the Coordinating Minister for Food Ad Interim, Andi Amran Sulaiman, emphasized that producers and distributors are not allowed to increase prices unilaterally.
The government will take strict action against violations, including sealing shops or freezing business licenses for parties that do not comply with price regulations. He added that this market operation will be the largest and most massive, with the involvement of various parties from the center to the regions.
The government has also prepared a more efficient distribution mechanism to ensure price stability. Acting Main Secretary of the National Food Agency, Sarwo Edhy, emphasized that smooth distribution and sufficient stock availability will ensure that people can meet their food needs at stable prices during the month of Ramadan. He explained that the government will continue to monitor prices in the field and ensure that no party takes advantage of the situation to raise prices unreasonably.
Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), food inflation tends to increase during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. However, the government is optimistic that with a more massive GPM policy this year, food inflation can be maintained within the target range that has been set. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman added that periodic evaluations will continue to be carried out to ensure that the price stabilization policy is running effectively throughout Indonesia. According to him, the government is trying so that people are not too affected by the increase in the price of basic necessities in the global market.
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his staff to conduct massive market operations, with plans to increase the number of distribution points from 500 locations in the initial stage to 4,000 points when Ramadan arrives. This policy is believed to have a significant impact on price stability, while also suppressing speculative practices that have the potential to harm the community. Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sudaryono, said that this intervention is expected to suppress food prices so that they are lower than the previous year. He also emphasized that several food commodities must be cheaper compared to prices in neighboring countries.
The government has also ensured that strategic food stocks remain safe. Currently, around 20,000 tons of meat have been prepared for distribution throughout Ramadan. With sufficient stock availability, massive market operations, and strict supervision, the government is optimistic that food prices will remain under control and there will be no price spikes that harm the community. According to Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, one of the government’s main focuses is to maintain stable rice prices, because this commodity has a major influence on food inflation.
In addition to rice and meat, stocks of cooking oil and granulated sugar are also the government’s main concerns. The Ministry of Trade has coordinated with producers to ensure that the supply of cooking oil remains stable and that prices do not experience drastic spikes. Meanwhile, granulated sugar, which often experiences price increases ahead of Eid, has been prepared in sufficient quantities to meet national needs.
In addition to more efficient market operations and distribution, the government is also optimizing Bulog’s role in distributing government food reserves (CPP). Bulog will distribute rice, sugar, and cooking oil at subsidized prices to make them more affordable for the public.
In an effort to prevent price speculation practices, the Food Task Force has been assigned to carry out strict monitoring in all traditional markets and modern retail. The Food Task Force will act quickly against individuals who try to hoard goods or raise prices unreasonably. The government has also opened a complaint channel for the public to report if violations are found in the field.
