Central Java Provincial Government Holds 333 Cheap Food Campaigns

The Central Java Provincial Government continues to intensify its efforts to stabilise staple food prices through the Cheap Food Movement (GPM) program. As of early March 2026, activities had been carried out 333 times across various regions, exceeding the initial first-quarter target of 308 times. Dyah Lukisari, head of the Provincial Food Security Service, said the achievement demonstrates the regional government’s commitment to keeping staple goods affordable for the public. As of yesterday, the GPM had been implemented 333 times, indicating it has surpassed the target, she said at the simultaneous GPM opening at the Semarang Barat District Office, Semarang, on Friday, 6 March 2026. Although the first-quarter target has been surpassed, the program will continue. The Central Java Provincial Government even held the Cheap Food Movement simultaneously in 35 regencies/cities. The event was opened by Governor Ahmad Luthfi and followed online by 31 regencies/cities in Central Java. Meanwhile, four areas — Brebes, Wonogiri, Boyolali and Tegal — had already staged GPM on Thursday, 5 March 2026. In the simultaneous GPM operations, several food commodities were distributed to the public at more affordable prices, including rice totaling 74 tons, granulated sugar 7,250 kilograms, cooking oil 21,000 litres, table eggs 11,500 kilograms, and garlic 3,400 kilograms. Dyah added that the success of the GPM implementation is inseparable from the support of various parties, including Bank Indonesia’s Central Java Representative and the Regional Inflation Control Team (TPID) in Central Java. Governor Ahmad Luthfi praised the program, coordinated by the Dinas Ketahanan Pangan (Food Security Service). He said the Cheap Food Movement is a concrete government measure to ensure people can obtain staple goods at affordable prices while also curbing inflation. “This serves as a model for us so that price affordability can be reached by our people,” Luthfi said while inspecting GPM activities at the Semarang Barat District Office compound. He noted that, overall, the prices of essential goods in Central Java remain relatively stable, though chili prices have risen to around Rp81,000 per kilogram, roughly 42.2% higher than the Government Price Reference (HAP) of Rp57,000 per kilogram. The Cheap Food Movement program has also received positive responses from the public. One resident of Semarang Barat, Eni, said she has been helped by the lower staples prices compared with market prices. “We buy vegetables, cooking oil and rice. Prices are lower. Minyakita is usually Rp19,000 to Rp20,000; here it’s Rp15,500. Premium rice is usually Rp16,000 per kilogram; here it’s Rp62,500 per 5 kilograms,” she said.