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)