Banjarmasin, S Kalimatan (ANTARA) - Banjarmasin Mayor Ibnu Sina ensured that rice stock for Ramadhan for people in the city is safe.
He said, rice stock at the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) here reached 12,000 tons, sufficient for the next two months.
"As for rice, there six thousand tons on the way, and another six thousand, so there are reserves of 12,000 tons for the next two months which are still safe," he said.
Previously, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) has highlighted the need to remain vigilant against inflation in the prices of food commodities, especially rice, ahead of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
"We must be aware of inflation. During Ramadan, prices usually increase. In general, historical data has always shown that inflation always occurs during Ramadan," acting head of the BPS, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, said in Jakarta on Monday (March 4, 2024).
Ibnu Sina together with the city leadership communication forum (Forkopimda) has also checked availability and prices of basic needs on traditional markets.
"We have to ensure that the availability is sufficient and prices are stable ahead of this Ramadan," he expounded.
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Regarding local unus rice, Ibnu Sina acknowledged that the price is still high around Rp17,000 to Rp18,000 per liter.
The city government, he said, is maximizing distribution of Pamanukan rice from Subang, West Java, to deal with price and supply in the city.
Due to the price of local rice still high, according to him, there has been a shift to Pamanukan rice, that it helps to overcome price spikes.
"Some of our people have switched to consuming Pamanukan rice, because the type is almost the same as our local rice," he said.
However, the Mayor hopes that local rice price will return to normal to around Rp12,000 per liter in line with big rice harvest.
Regarding prices of other commodities, he said, they were still normal, although there were increases.
"Like duck egg from Rp2,500 to Rp3,000 per egg," he said.
The Banjarmasin City Government is taking measures, such as market operation, low price market, and empowering social responsibility to ensure the availability of basic commodities are safe and prices remain stable in Ramadan 1445 Hijriah.
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