Agricom.id, JAKARTA – In the pandemic of corona virus (Covid-19) and in the fasting days, the food needs increase. In order to make the people get the food access, Badan Ketahanan Pangan (BKP), Ministry of Agriculture mobilized the Pasar Mitra Tani in 34 provinces, such as, Central Kalimantan and Riau through Gelar Pasar Murah (GPM) which was launched by Head of BKP, Agung Hendriadi in Pasar Mitra Tani Jakarta some time ago (20/4/2020).

In Riau, GPM was done in Pasar Mitra Tani/Toko Tani Indonesia Center (TTIC) by keep doing the standard operational procedures about physical distancing. The Head in Duty of Food, Food Plantation, and Horticulture Agency, Riau Province, Herman told that the people were enthusiastic with the GPM.

“The people are really enthusiastic. In two days, the rice from the groups was sold about 685 packs from 800 packs in total, or about 4 tons,” he said, as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

He also mentioned, in order that the people could easily get the food materials, Pasar Mitra Tani provides the delivery order service through whatapp number. He also mentioned that his side would cooperate with the online service to deliver, such as, Gojek.

It did too in GPM of Central Kalimantan which was socialized through media, such as, pamphlet, banners, and electronic media. Head of Food Agency, Central Kalimantan Province, Lilis Suriani said that her side is about to cooperate with Gojek to help the food distribution.

“We have discussed it with the representative of Gojek but it needs to wait for the service feature to be activated from the head quarter of Gojek,” she mentioned.

But she continued, in the pandemic of Covid-19 Pasar Mitra Tani Central Kalimantan has given online service through whatsapp.

Pasar Mitra Tani is hoped to stop the distribution chain because the food materials were directly from the smallholders through the pengembangan usaha pangan masyarakat (PUPM). Until now, the rice which is supplied to Pasar Mitra Tani of Central Kalimantan reaches 50 tons in total from 4 groups of PUPM.

Meanwhile the Governor of Central Kalimantan, Sugianto Sabran suggested that Pasar Mitra Tani could be running in every district and city. This is the same with what Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul  Yasin Limpo told so that Pasar Mitra Tani could really be the one to count on to stabilize the stocks, and price. (A2)