TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi reminded the regional government to strengthen their food stocks ahead of the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.

"Since we still have time before Christmas and New Year, please ensure that the food stock distribution is done on time. There's no issue if the stocks have a long shelf time, but for [food stocks] like chilis that do not have long shelf time, please pay attention to it," he said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The message, Arief said, was intended for the provincial government of Jakarta, West Java, Banten, and Central Java since the food stocks in these regions affect the food stock nationwide.

"If we can maintain the [food] stock in Pasar Jaya and Tanah Tinggi and Cibitung and Johar, we are safe. This is important since if the food stock in Java Island is safe, it is also safe at the national level. This is part of our effort to control inflation and food prices," he added.

The National Food Agency recorded a national inflation level of 2.56 percent in October, an increase compared to September at 2.28 percent. Meanwhile, inflation in Jakarta reached 2.08 percent.

The inflation in Banten is also below the national level at 2.35 percent, while it reached 2.59 percent in West Java. Out of these three provinces, the biggest inflation contributor was rice.

"We must encourage and support domestic rice production. If the planting area is under one million hectares, we are at risk of a deficit since the national rice requirement each year is 2.5 million tons. Thus, let's hand in hand support the ministry to fulfill this requirement," he said.

Arief also reminded the regional leaders to keep organizing the Cheap Food Movement, the program that has been held in around 1,468 areas in Indonesia as an effort to control food inflation.

In addition, the Bapanas head also encouraged the implementation of the Food Distribution Facility program to control the food stock availability and food prices.

ANTARA

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