By: Dina Maulida
As Ramadan 2025 approaches, the government is enhancing logistics distribution to ensure a stable food supply and maintain price stability. This step is taken in response to the increased demand for basic foodstuffs during the holy month, which could lead to price surges if not properly anticipated. To address this, various strategies have been prepared to ensure smooth distribution and price stability across Indonesia.
One of the main steps taken by the government is the implementation of market operations from February 24, 2025, to March 29, 2025. These operations aim to stabilize food prices by supplying large quantities of essential commodities at strategic points. The government has emphasized that in this market operation, the prices of essential goods must not exceed the highest retail price (HET), in line with direct instructions from President Prabowo Subianto. With this strict regulation, it is hoped that excessive price increases can be prevented, ensuring that the purchasing power of the public remains intact.
Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, emphasized that the success of the market operations heavily relies on cooperation between the government, producers, distributors, and importers. He urged all parties involved in the food distribution chain to ensure that the selling prices of basic goods do not exceed the set limits. This policy aims not only to maintain price stability but also to prevent speculative practices that could harm the public.
This year’s market operations are packaged under the Cheap Food Movement (Gerakan Pangan Murah, GPM), a program designed to reach various regions, including areas with limited access to affordable food. Since the initial phase, the GPM has reached 325 distribution points across various provinces. The primary focus of distribution is on Java Island due to its large population and high demand. However, the government also ensures that food supplies are sent to areas outside Java in a proportional manner.
Starting March 1, 2025, the coverage of the market operations will be expanded nationwide, involving various parties including PT Pos Indonesia, state-owned food companies, and technical implementation units of the Ministry of Agriculture. With this collaboration, the logistics distribution is expected to run more smoothly and evenly, ensuring no areas face food shortages. The government is also optimizing distribution routes to ensure food supplies reach the public at affordable prices.
Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, stated that several key commodities are prioritized for distribution this year, including MinyaKita cooking oil, sugar, garlic, frozen buffalo meat, and SPHP rice, which are strategic foodstuffs with high demand during Ramadan. To ensure food availability, a total of 189,000 tons of basic commodities and 70,000 kiloliters of cooking oil have been allocated and are ready to be distributed across various regions. With these measures, the government hopes to prevent food shortages and ensure that the public can access essential foodstuffs at stable prices.
In addition to ensuring smooth distribution, the government also emphasizes the importance of price monitoring to prevent speculative practices and hoarding of goods. Close coordination with the Police’s Food Task Force (Satgas Pangan) is underway to ensure that prices remain within the prescribed limits. Arief Prasetyo Adi emphasized that strict supervision will be conducted not only at the central level but also in regions, to ensure that food policies truly benefit the public.
At the regional level, various measures have also been taken to support more equitable food distribution. The Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta, for example, has launched the Cheap Food Movement, which will continue until Idulfitri. This program aims to maintain supply stability and ensure that prices remain affordable for all segments of society. Acting Assistant for Economics and Finance of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Secretary, Suharini Eliawati, stated that this program is flexible and open to additional location proposals, including from the private sector that wishes to participate in providing affordable food for the public.
To improve distribution coverage, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has implemented a more dynamic distribution system. Food trucks are used as the main means to enhance mobility and reach more areas. If there are locations that are difficult to access by larger vehicles, the team from BUMD Pangan will adapt and approach those locations flexibly. With this strategy, it is hoped that the cheap food program will reach more points, including areas that have historically had limited access to affordable food.
In addition to ensuring food availability, the government also strives to make the prices of food sold under the Cheap Food Movement even lower than market prices. Some products are even offered in bundled packages, such as rice, cooking oil, and syrup, sold at more competitive prices. The government has also introduced an innovation in the form of 2.5 kg rice packages, designed to facilitate the public in paying zakat according to the standard zakat fitrah measurement.
The government continues to monitor market price developments to ensure that the stabilization policies implemented deliver optimal results for the public. With the various strategic measures that have been planned and implemented, the government is optimistic that the food supply will remain secure during Ramadan and Idulfitri.
*) Public Policy Observer
