Agricom.id, JAKARTA – Heading to the fasting days which is one day to come, ministry of agriculture confirmed that the stocks and price of some commodities are in control and stable.

Head of Badan Ketahanan Pangan (BKP), Ministry of Agriculture, Agung Hendriadi said that after launching the Operasi Pasar (OP) Pasar Mitra Tani and continued by doing video conference with heads of food agency from many regions in Indonesia in Jakarta, Monday (20/4/2020) as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

Based on the food estimation, the rice until June 2020 would be surplus about 6,4 million tons.   The other commodities are surplus too, such as, corn 1 million tons, union 330 thousand tons, big chili 27 thousand tons, cayenne pepper 68 thousand tons, and hen meat 306 thousand tons. 

Until now the stocks of rice reach 3,4 million tons; in PT. Bulog reaching 1,4 million tons, in the milling reaching 1,2 million tons, in the traders reaching 728 thousand tons, in Pasar Induk Beras Cipinang (PIBC) reaching 26 thousand tons and in the food barn of the people reaching 2,939 tons.

He thought that from the calculation, there would be enough stocks and the price would be stable.

“One thing to notice is the distribution so that it would have no issue. We have cooperated with other ministries and the food task force too,” he said.

He gave example, if there is province lack of union, while the other provinces have more, the distribution would be turned to the provinces which need it.

“In this situation, though the PSBB (pembatasan sosial berskala besar) runs, there is no ban for the logistic transportation but it needs control to distribute it well,” Agung emphasized.

He also mentioned that his side keeps doing the best to guarantee the food procurement within economic price.

Through the video conference, he urged the heads of food agency in many provinces to do operation heading to the fasting days and Idul Fitri.

Knowing this, the food agencies from many province claimed to be ready. Until now Pasar Mitra Tani in 34 provinces has done operation. In the pandemic of Covid-19 the provinces cooperate with the start-up to minimize the physical interaction.

Some provinces, such as, West Java, Central Java, Lampung, and West Kalimantan reported that starting Monday (20/4), they have been doing the operation and would be too until the lebaran days

For information in many chances, Ministry of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo emphasized that the food distribution is crucial, namely in the pandemic of corona virus (Covid – 19). The people should stay at home and do physical distance. (A2)