*) By: Andika Hidayatullah
Ramadan always presents two faces in the national economy. On the one hand, it serves as a momentum for increased household consumption, stimulating economic circulation, strengthening the trade sector, and energizing small businesses. On the other hand, the surge in demand for staple goods often creates price pressures that risk eroding people’s purchasing power. In this context, Ramadan market operations are not merely an annual routine, but a strategic policy instrument to safeguard social and economic stability. Governments across various regions have demonstrated their seriousness in positioning market operations as a primary shield to protect the purchasing power of the people.
The steps taken in Kabupaten Cirebon provide a concrete example of how political oversight and public policy can move hand in hand. The Chairperson of the Cirebon Regency DPRD, Sophi Zulfia, directly led price monitoring efforts alongside the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum during Ramadan market operations in several traditional markets. The presence of legislative leaders in the field underscores that price stability oversight is not merely an administrative formality, but a tangible commitment to public protection. The DPRD is not only carrying out its budgeting and legislative functions, but also ensuring that regional inflation control policies truly benefit the community. This illustrates that price stability is a shared agenda between the executive and legislative branches.
Direct supervision is crucial in preventing market distortions that often emerge ahead of Ramadan. Potential price spikes caused by speculation, hoarding, or distribution bottlenecks can be mitigated through strong cross-sector coordination. Collaboration with law enforcement authorities, relevant agencies, and Perum Bulog strengthens the distribution system to ensure that staple food supplies remain secure and stable. When the state is actively present in the market, business actors are more likely to maintain compliance, as there is a clear signal that practices harming the public will not be tolerated. In this sense, market operations function both as a stabilization mechanism and as a preventive measure against moral hazard.
A similar commitment is evident in Riau Province. The provincial government, through its regional food enterprise PT Riau Pangan Bertuah, has reaffirmed the state’s presence in controlling prices during the holy month. President Director Ade Putra Daulay has encouraged the provision of staple goods at relatively lower prices and the deployment of mobile food trucks to improve public access. Ramadan market operations have been conducted in 12 regencies and cities, reflecting a systematic and measurable approach. This strategy broadens the reach of government intervention, especially for communities in areas with limited distribution access.
Riau’s approach demonstrates that price stabilization cannot rely solely on supervision, but also requires effective supply-side intervention. By increasing distribution points and reducing logistics costs through mobile food trucks, price pressures driven by high demand can be balanced with adequate supply. The presence of a regional food enterprise serves as an important instrument to shorten distribution chains and minimize intermediary costs. Amid often volatile market dynamics, such policies reflect a pro-consumer orientation without undermining market mechanisms. The government acts as a stabilizer, not a competitor.
A similar pattern can be observed in Jawa Timur. The provincial government has organized low-cost market operations in Jember Regency as a preventive measure ahead of Ramadan 1447 Hijri. Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has positioned market penetration as a key strategy to suppress inflation while helping residents obtain essential goods at affordable prices. Rising household needs ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr often create imbalances between demand and supply. Through affordable market operations, the regional government seeks to close this gap before it develops into significant price hikes.
East Java’s market penetration strategy reflects an understanding that food inflation is often driven by expectations. If the public anticipates price increases without visible intervention, such expectations can accelerate excessive purchasing behavior that worsens shortages. Well-planned and large-scale market operations send a policy signal that the government is prepared to maintain stability. This signal is vital in calming market psychology and preventing panic buying. In a broader macroeconomic context, food price stability significantly contributes to controlling core inflation and sustaining regional economic growth momentum.
Nationally, Ramadan market operations reflect the government’s consistent commitment to protecting vulnerable groups from price pressures. Public purchasing power is a cornerstone of social stability, particularly during the holy month when consumption needs rise. Sharp increases in staple prices would not only have economic repercussions but could also trigger social tensions. Therefore, market intervention is not a distortion, but a corrective measure to maintain balance between demand and supply. The state’s presence ensures that market mechanisms function fairly and do not create inequality.
The success of market operations, however, requires sustained synergy. The central government, regional governments, regional food enterprises, Perum Bulog, and law enforcement authorities must move in unified policy orchestration. Transparency in stock data, distribution monitoring, and periodic evaluation are essential to ensure that policies do not end as mere ceremonial actions. In the digital era, leveraging information technology to monitor prices in real time can further strengthen intervention effectiveness. The more precise the policy measures, the greater their impact in protecting public purchasing power.
*) Interfaith Dialogue Activist.