Session, rate hikes spur increase in food supply

Session, rate hikes spur increase in food supply

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has increased its stocks
of staple food in anticipation of a possible increase in food
demand ahead of the much anticipated plenary session of the House
of Representatives on May 30 that could spark civil unrest.

The head of the city's economic supervision office, Dameria
Saragih, predicted that prices of staple foods would increase
slightly next week due to the session and the government's plan
to increase gasoline prices and electricity rates.

"The increases will not be substantial. Nevertheless, we have
prepared enough stocks and maintained adequate supplies to
traditional markets," Dameria said after meeting with several
trading associations at City Hall.

Dameria announced that the city's logistic agency, Dolog,
stored 104,273 tons of rice while rice in warehouses at Cipinang
market in East Jakarta amounted to 20,698 tons.

Beef stocks were considered sufficient as the Cakung slaughter
house in North Jakarta still had 2,044 cows and buffaloes, she
said.

Imported meat, which had entered the city through the animal
quarantine in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta since May 5 reached
191,200 kilograms, she said.

Dameria said the supplies of various fruits and vegetables
monitored at Kramatjati market, East Jakarta reached 7,852 tons
and 5,449 tons last week.

She said the city needed 1,200 tons of vegetables and 1,000
tons of fruit a day.

She said fish supplies to the city from Muara Angke and Muara
Baru markets in North Jakarta reached 724,071 kilograms last
week.

A number of distributor associations, such as the association
of kerosene distributors, of vegetable oil distributors, and milk
distributors, revealed that they had enough stocks but warned of
a possible increase in prices.

Meanwhile, state oil and gas company Pertamina's city
distribution unit III guaranteed enough fuel for the city,
including diesel oil, which had been running out during the past
week.

Dameria said prices of staple foods in Jakarta's traditional
markets increased by between 0.3 percent and 0.6 percent last
week.

The price of rice ranged between Rp 3,000 and Rp 2,600 a
kilogram, with the highest price recorded in Sawah Besar market,
Central Jakarta, Teluk Gong market in North Jakarta, Grogol
market, West Jakarta and Pasar Minggu market, South Jakarta. The
lowest price was recorded in Petojo Ilir market.

The price of sugar ranged from Rp 4,000 to Rp 4,200 a
kilogram, with the highest price recorded in Blok M market, South
Jakarta, Gogrol market and Rawamangun market, East Jakarta, while
the lowest price recorded in Tanah Abang market and Senen Market,
Central Jakarta, and Sunter market, North Jakarta.

The price of beef in Petojo Ilir market, Central Jakarta, Koja
Baru market, North Jakarta, West Tomang, West Jakarta reached
between Rp 33,000 a kilogram and Rp 30,500 a kilogram. (jun)