PALANGKA RAYA – EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION BUREAU. Deputy Governor of Central Kalimantan Edy Pratowo attended the Limited Coordination Meeting on Food virtually via video conference from the Deputy Governor’s Meeting Room, Governor’s Office, Tuesday (19/04/2022). Being present to accompany the Deputy Governor were Assistant for Economics and Development Leonard S. Ampung, Head of Food Security Office Sunarti, and Head of Economy Bureau Said Salim.

The meeting which discussed the bulk cooking oil (MGC) was chaired by the Coordinating Minister for Economy Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and attended by the Minister of Industry, Minister of Trade, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Transportation, Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Head of State Logistics Agency, and Head of National Food Agency.

Starting the meeting, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that related to global inflation, it is known that food prices are rising globally. “So, not only in Indonesia, but also throughout the world. Inflation in March 2022 was 0.66% (MtM) or 2.64% (YoY). On an annual basis, this is the highest inflation since April 2020. On a monthly basis, it is the highest inflation since May 2019,” he said.

Furthermore, in line with the National Inflation, Spatial Inflation also increased. In several regions, the realization of inflation in March 2022 was above the national target of 3.1%. Inflation in North Kalimantan was 4.61% (YoY), Central Kalimantan was 4.33% (YoY), and Maluku was 4.32% (YoY). In addition, there are still several regions with relatively low inflation of < 2% (YoY), namely Papua, Gorontalo, North Sulawesi, and North Maluku.

Then, for the development and distribution of subsidized bulk cooking oil as of April 18, 2022, 123,155.78 tons of MGC have been distributed throughout Indonesia or 63.26% of the target of 194,634 tons. The business actors involved were 75 producers, 285 distributors, 1,136 sub-distributors, and 13,104 retailers. However, the current condition of HET of Rp 15,500/kg or Rp 14,000/liter has not yet been formed in the market and its distribution is still uneven.

“The progress of distribution of the subsidized bulk cooking oil has generally been distributed to most provinces in Indonesia. In the April period, there were 2 provinces where MGC distribution data were still empty (as of April 18, 2022), namely North Kalimantan and Southeast Sulawesi. This is because producers are still in the process of updating/inputting data in SIMIRAH (Bulk Cooking Oil Information System),” said the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs.

“The current condition is that bulk cooking oil HET has not yet been established in the regions, so efforts are needed from the Directorate General of Regional Development of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Provincial Government, and the Regency Government to encourage the Regional Food Security Task Force led by Regional Secretaries and the Office in charge of Industry and Trade to be active in supervising and monitoring the distribution of MGC from distributors to retailers,” explained the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor Edy Pratowo stated that so far there have been no problems regarding cooking oil, especially bulk cooking oil in Central Kalimantan.

“We have 3 producer companies. However, the percentage of production per year from the three producers is still small. Then, in the market, packaged cooking oil is also sold at a price of Rp. 24,000-Rp. 26,000, that is also fulfilled, people also buy it. Because it is approaching holiday (Hari Raya), the most important thing is that our stock must be available,” he said.

“The provincial government always reminds the relevant ranks, as well as those with an interest in food and basic commodities, to really check everything and make sure all the people of Central Kalimantan do not face any difficulties in providing their basic necessities, especially entering the upcoming Hari Raya”, concluded the Deputy Governor Edy Pratowo. (win/ben/transl.feb)