Panic causes surge in food prices

JAKARTA: Prices for food have continued to increase as many people buy more than what they need fearing shortages before the Idul Fitri holiday, a government official said.

Councillor Charles J. Messang from Commission III on Agriculture and Food Affairs of the House of Representatives (DPR) issued the statement on Saturday, after visiting traditional markets in Depok and Bogor along with a group of West Java logistic agencies.

He called on the public to remain calm, as food and other items are plenty this holiday season.

The price of beef has increased from Rp 33,000 to Rp 39,000 per kilogram, while a whole chicken, which used to cost less than Rp 10,000, was priced at Rp 15,000.

There has also been a significant hike in the price of vegetables.

The cost of rice, meanwhile, has risen by between Rp 50 and Rp 100 per kilogram; one kilo of good quality rice is Rp 3,000.

The head of the provincial logistic agency, Muslimin Siregar, said that the stock of rice would be enough to cover people's needs for the next seven to eight months.--Antara