This serves as an early warning for food problems so that anticipatory steps can be properly implemented in maintaining stability of food supply and prices.

The Head of BKP Food Distribution and Reserve Center, Risfaheri, ensured that supply of basic necessities for facing fasting month and ahead of Lebaran 2021 was in a safe condition and stable prices.

“Prices and supply of strategic staple foods are relatively safe. It can be seen in two traditional markets in Bogor, to be precise in Suryakencana and Kebun Kembang” said Risfaheri while monitoring prices and strategic food supply, Saturday (01/05/2021).

He added, not only visiting 2 markets, BKP also monitors prices and food supply directly in various markets in Greater Jakarta area, namely Tanah Tinggi Tangerang Main Market, South Tangerang Ciputat Market, Depok Jaya Market, Cibitung Main Market, Kranggan Market and Kranji Market. Bekasi.

“Market conditions in city of Bogor look busy, indicating that economic and social economic movements are quite good in midst of pandemic, as well as in other markets,” he said.

From results of monitoring, it was found that food supply was in sufficient condition and prices tended to be stable. The price of medium rice ranges from Rp. 8,100 – 10,500 / kg (HET Rp. 9,450 / kg) while premium rice is in range of Rp. 11,500 – 14,000 / kg (HET IDR 12,800 / kg) with a stock range of 5-7 tons / retailer. Sugar prices in market range from IDR 12,500 – 14,000 / kg (HAP IDR 12,500 / kg) and cooking oil there is a slight increase in range of IDR 13,000 – 15,000 / kg (HAP IDR 11,000 / lt; IDR 11,790 / kg) with a stock range of 100-150 liters / retailer.

Red Chili Peppers (CRM) and Curly Red Chili (CMK) are relatively stable, CRM price is Rp 60,000 / kg and CMK price ranges from Rp 22,000 – 30,000 / kg. Meanwhile, for price of onions Rp.26,000-30,000 (HAP Rp.32,000 / kg) and garlic Rp.24,000-30,000 / kg, this price is observed to have decreased compared to last week. According to him, Shallots are currently entering beginning of harvest season and stock of garlic is sufficient until next June.

Responding to price of cooking oil and sugar above HAP (Reference Price for Sales at consumers / Permendag 7/2020) and some medium and premium rice that exceed HET, Risfaheri reminded traders to pay attention to HAP and HET that have been issued by government.

“We note that stock of three food commodities is in a safe and surplus condition, so there is no reason for an unreasonable price increase, even though demand for this industry will increase. For this reason, we hope that Food Task Force can supervise it,” said Risfaheri.

Similar conditions also occur in Bekasi city market. The price of chicken meat in Bekasi has dropped from IDR 40,000 / kg to IDR 38,000 / kg, beef from IDR 130,000 / kg down to IDR 120,000 / kg, eggs from IDR 24,000 / kg down to IDR 22,000 / kg (HAP IDR 24,000 / kg), medium rice is stable at IDR 9,000 / kg, granulated sugar IDR 12,500 / kg, cooking oil IDR 14,500-15,000 / kg, while in Bogor, beef is IDR 130,000 / kg and eggs IDR 23,000 / kg.

“People do not need to worry about food price fluctuations that occur especially ahead of Eid al-Fitr. An increase of about 10% from reference price is still reasonable in facing Eid, because traders certainly need more income to get to Eid,” said Risfaheri.

To help community, Food Security Agency has provided sufficient stocks of strategic staple food at Mitra Tani Market / Toko Tani Indonesia Center in Jakarta, Bogor and Depok at prices that are cheaper than market prices.

People can not only shop directly, but also through online via gofood, grabmart, Bukalapak and PasTani, even to face Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr PMT provides free postage services. Not only that, PMT also held cheap food titles in residential centers in Jabodetabek area while still paying attention to Covid Health Prokes19.

The Head of BKP of Ministry of Agriculture, Agung Hendriadi, has also asked all regional food offices to continue to maintain stability of food supply and prices through various actions, including holding Cheap Food Awards intensively in their respective regions.

For areas experiencing a shortage of supply, Food Security Agency also provides transportation costs assistance from areas of surplus that are cheaper to areas of deficit experiencing extreme price increases, in an effort to maintain stability of food supply and prices throughout region.

Previously, Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo, stated that availability of foodstuffs prior to Eid Al-Fitr 1442 Hijriyah was sufficient to meet people needs with controlled food prices. The availability of food in 12 main commodities is currently in a safe condition.

“So if availability of food for 12 basic food commodities, president really asked that it be something that is available under control in month of Ramadan until Eid Al-Fitr,” said Minister of Agriculture SYL.

“The processing of this food estate land is almost 90 percent more, processing up to building beds is up to 70 percent. This December, God willing, installation of mulch and planting will be 100 percent complete, it will not take long to move more people and of course in accordance with The existing target is January, God willing, planting has been completed,” said Minister of Agriculture Syahrul when being interviewed after visiting location of food estate in Ria-Ria Village, Pollung District, Humbahas Regency, Friday (18/12/20).

Minister of Agriculture Syahrul said food storage area of ​​Humbahas Regency is development of agricultural land based on horticulture as main commodity. There are 3 commodities that will be developed in Humbahas food estate area, including potatoes, shallots and garlic.

“We are just waiting for how to cultivate and guard so that we can harvest within planned time,” said Minister of Agriculture.

On same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that progress of working on food estate land is very significant. In next four years, North Sumatra food estate land will be expanded to 30,000 hectares and horticultural planting will be developed.

In 2020, target to develop Humbahas food estate area of ​​1,000 hectares (ha) consists of an area of ​​215 ha from State Budget of Ministry of Agriculture (Ministry of Agriculture) while area of ​​785 ha is managed by private sector.

“This is first time in Indonesia that there are 215 hectares planted with potatoes, garlic and onions. From data that has been reported by Head of Balitbang, Ministry of Agriculture, results are very good,”.

Coordinating Minister Luhut said food estate development area would be a model for other regions so that in future shortcomings found in process of cultivating, cultivating, harvesting and post-harvesting will be improvements in other areas.

“So if this goes on, Pak Syahrul Limpo plan is only 215 hectares, there will be 1000 hectares, a total of 30,000 hectares, so this is current model. I think we learn from shortcomings here to fix them later in other places,” said Luhut.

Coordinating Minister Luhut also revealed that currently government is looking at other highlands where a food estate area can be developed. For example, on island of Sulawesi or Java, to be able to develop agriculture and improve welfare of surrounding population.

“In Sulawesi there is also an altitude of 1000-1200 land like this. We will build it again or later in Java, maybe 500 or 1000 hectares like this, we will make a model like this again, so that our horticultural self-sufficiency can also be finished in next 5 years,” said Luhut. .

In addition, Luhut emphasized that food estate area does not disturb forest environment. Commodities are planted on land that is not planted with trees, so that forest is well preserved. To keep land from landslide, it will also be planted with macadamia nuts, coffee and other perennials.

“The forests will not be cut into lands where there are no trees, bushes, which we will make land. So environment will be maintained,”

Here there are potatoes, garlic and forest will remain. The head of Balitbang also planted macadamia trees, coffee, and tree crops so that even though slope is 15 degrees, we can protect it so that there are no landslides,” he concluded.

“We are continuously actively reminding vigilance at work. Health protocols remain strictly enforced, even though they have to work alternately in office,” said Minister of Agriculture SYL when checking health system and fire threat protection, when asked by media at C Kanpus building of Ministry of Agriculture, Monday (24/08/20).

At this check, Minister of Agriculture SYL was accompanied by Secretary General of Ministry of Agriculture, Momon Rusmon, Director General of Plantation Kasdi Subagiyono, Head of General and Procurement Bureau, Maman Suherman and Head of Public Relations and Public Information Bureau, Kuntoro Boga Andiri. The Minister of Agriculture SYL also checks condition of building and its facilities, such as alarms, smoke and heat sensors in building, readiness of hydrants and warehouse for hydrant water pump machines.

“So our facilities are complete and condition is ready to go. We are anticipating fire-prone conditions early. But we hope that things that are not desirable will not happen,” explained SYL. Regarding prevention of Covid 19, Minister of Agriculture SYL said, Ministry of Agriculture regularly conducts rapid tests and SWAB tests for every employee of Ministry of Agriculture. In addition, Ministry of Agriculture also continues to sterilize buildings after working hours to keep work spaces safe from threat of Covid-19.

“Every month we have checked through rapid tests and SWAB tests. However, we cannot watch every employee 24 hours because they are also at their home, going to market, or other places,” he explained.

Apart from that, agricultural sector also requires that there be fields in various regions to maintain food conditions, such as farmers in fields. However, Minister of Agriculture said that his staff always implement health program according to government recommendation.

“From last SWAB test, there are indeed several employees who are positive and now they have received treatment. The room has also been sterilized again. The division between WFH and WFO also continues as before,” explained SYL.

On same occasion Secretary General of Ministry of Agriculture, Momon Rusmono said that as an anticipatory step, ranks of Ministry of Agriculture were constantly asked to take strict preventive measures. First, spraying disinfectants to all rooms at Ministry of Agriculture Head Office.

“Second, strict health protocols in every room, including enhancing immunity of each employee,” he said.

Third, continued Momon, namely making WFH arrangements, while still being able to complete work / tasks. Fourth, reduce activities that are physical meetings (preferably use virtual). Fifth, get more employees to do a rapid test.

“The health protocol must apply, maintain immunity with vitamins and good nutrition. Our employees have been asked to be more careful. The handling is carried out optimally,” said Momon.

In addition, Momon said that latest information on infected employees is currently in self-medication and isolation, considering that on average they do not show symptoms of illness.

“We continue to prioritize safety of employees of Ministry of Agriculture. Hopefully, with steps that have been taken, employees are safe and Ministry of Agriculture can avoid spread of Covid-19,” he said. (*)