The South Kalimantan provincial government is continuing to advance\nthe Cheap Food Movement (GPM) ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri, as part\nof efforts to combat high inflation in the region. Thousands of basic\nnecessity packages were distributed free of charge to residents during\nthe GPM event organised by the provincial government on Monday, 16\nMarch.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to carry out this cheap food movement across all\ndistricts during Ramadan, particularly leading up to Eid al-Fitr. This\nis also connected to our efforts to suppress the high prices of basic\nnecessities for the community and inflation,\u201d said M Syarifudin,\nSecretary of South Kalimantan Provincial Government, when opening the\nGPM event held at the office grounds of the Provincial Department of\nAgriculture and Food Security (DPKP) in Banjarbaru.<\/p>\n
He stated that the high inflation in South Kalimantan is influenced\nby increases in gold and electricity prices, in addition to other\ntriggers such as airline tickets and prices of various commodities.\nPreviously, the Indonesia Central Bank\u2019s South Kalimantan office\nreported that the province experienced monthly inflation of 0.86 per\ncent (month-on-month) in February 2026 and 5.97 per cent year-on-year.\nThis inflation rate is among the highest in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The Head of the South Kalimantan Department of Plantation and\nLivestock, Suparmi, emphasised that the stock of basic necessities in\nSouth Kalimantan, particularly eggs, meat and cooking oil, is very\nsufficient. \u201cThe stock of basic necessities for the community in South\nKalimantan is safe and very adequate. However, there is indeed a price\nincrease ahead of Eid al-Fitr,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In this GPM event, four regional government units served as\norganisers: the DPKP Department, the Bunak Department, the ESDM\nDepartment, and the Department of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of South\nKalimantan. Basic necessities sold to the community averaged 30 per cent\ncheaper than market prices. Around 1,500 basic necessity packages were\nalso distributed free of charge to orphans and low-income residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the price, we subsidise 30 per cent from market rates. There are\nalso some that we distribute free to the community, as well as bonuses,\u201d\nsaid Syamsir Rahman, Head of the PKP Department of South Kalimantan\nProvince, who assisted in selling at the Disbunak stand. Media\nobservations showed that the GPM activity was crowded with residents\nseeking to purchase various basic necessities at affordable prices.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/high-inflation-prompts-south-kalimantan-to-launch-cheap-food-movement-1773679909", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }