Central Java Holds 794 Cheap Food Movements to Meet Resident Needs

One such initiative was observed during a GPM event at the Gumiwang Village Office, Purwanegara District, Banjarnegara Regency, on Monday (18/5). Residents showed great enthusiasm at stalls providing various basic necessities at affordable prices. The event was personally visited by the Governor of Central Java, Ahmad Luthfi.

Parmiati, a resident of Gumiwang Village, expressed how much the GPM has helped her, noting that she could purchase essential goods much cheaper than at the local market. As a housewife whose husband works in a corn warehouse with an irregular income, she expressed gratitude for being able to purchase eggs at Rp 23,000 per kilogram alongside other subsidised staples.

Governor Ahmad Luthfi stated that the GPM is an intervention programme designed to maintain price affordability and ensure the availability of essential food stocks. The programme also serves as a strategic effort to control inflation within Central Java. Through the GPM, the public is expected to access basic commodities at lower costs due to subsidies on items such as rice, shallots, garlic, and other necessities.

The commodities sold at the Gumiwang Village GPM were valued at approximately Rp 121 million, including 5 tonnes of rice, 1,000 litres of cooking oil, 500 kilograms of eggs, 200 kilograms of granulated sugar, 200 kilograms of shallots, 200 kilograms of garlic, and 50 kilograms each of red bird’s eye chilli and curly red chilli.

The Head of the Central Java Provincial Food Security Office, Widi Hartanto, noted that from January to May 2026, the GPM has been held 794 times, generating a total turnover of Rp 15.1 billion. He emphasised that the goal is to increase accessibility so that the community can access cheaper food.

The Regent of Banjarnegara, Amalia Desiana, added that the cheap food movement is highly necessary given the current economic conditions, and pledged that such collaborations would continue to ease the burden on residents.

During the event, Ahmad Luthfi also distributed food aid through the local government’s food reserves (CPPD). The aid delivered to Gumiwang Village included 2 tonnes of rice and 400 kilograms of sorghum rice for 200 families. Additionally, 200 kilograms of Fortivit rice were distributed to 100 elderly individuals with toddlers at risk of stunting.