Bapanas Summons Importers to Maintain Garlic Price Stability
Jakarta (ANTARA) — The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has summoned a number of garlic importers to maintain price stability and supply of the commodity during the National Religious Holiday (HBKN) period of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah/2026.
Bapanas Deputy for Food Availability and Stabilisation I Gusti Ketut Astawa explained that garlic importers have a responsibility that extends beyond merely bringing in stock — they must also be willing to help stabilise domestic prices.
“We have invited importers to stabilise or bring down the high prices related to garlic, because the function of importers is not merely to bring in goods — they have a noble duty. A special duty to stabilise prices,” said Ketut Astawa in Jakarta on Friday.
During the Ramadan HBKN period, the government is focused on managing price fluctuations of strategic staple food commodities, including garlic, for which national demand cannot yet be met through domestic production alone.
The agency has asked garlic importers to ensure that their supply chains can support and stabilise both prices and supply all the way to eastern Indonesia. Ketut Astawa stressed that garlic prices must not be allowed to fluctuate excessively.
“I am pushing and ensuring that distributors distribute garlic to areas where prices remain high, particularly eastern Indonesia, at reasonable prices. This way we can keep garlic prices under control,” he said.
According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), up to the second week of February 2026, some 130 districts and municipalities experienced increases in the Price Development Index (IPH), with 85 districts and municipalities — approximately 65 per cent — still maintaining an IPH in line with the Consumer-Level Reference Selling Price (HAP) of Rp38,000 per kilogramme.
BPS also recorded that eastern Indonesia experienced the highest average garlic prices exceeding the consumer-level HAP, across 45 districts and municipalities. The HAP for garlic specifically in Maluku, North Maluku, and all of Papua has been set at a maximum of Rp40,000 per kilogramme.
To that end, Ketut continued, consolidated commitment between the government and garlic importers is essential to ensure garlic price stability extends to eastern Indonesia. Bapanas is encouraging collaboration in the spirit of mutual cooperation to answer this national call.
“So, everyone must be involved — including market traders, distributors, and importers — all must be engaged, because this is a call of the nation,” said Ketut.
Nevertheless, the government has provided assurance that national garlic supply remains sufficient through to the upcoming Eid al-Fitr.
The government projects that garlic production in bulb form could reach 2,400 tonnes in March, rising further to 4,200 tonnes in April, which is expected to be the peak of the domestic garlic harvest in the first half of this year.
The government has also issued a firm warning to private sector operators granted strategic staple food import quotas to help maintain prices and supply during Ramadan through to Eid al-Fitr.