Jakarta, IO – Residents buy onions at the Affordable Food Program (GPM) held in Pondok Kopi, Jakarta. This is part of the government effort to overcome the skyrocketing increase in onion prices. The program saw the collaboration between the National Food Agency (Bapanas) and the Agriculture Ministry (Kementan) to maintain the stability of basic foodstuff prices.
In this bazaar, onion is sold at affordable prices, for example the Batu Ijo variety only costs Rp25,000 per kg, Bima Brebes Rp35,000 per kg, and Super Brebes Rp40,000 per kg. Local residents can also buy other essentials staples such as rice, edible oil, sugar and eggs.
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This program will run from April 29 to May 8 in a number of locations in Jakarta. According to Bapanas chief Arief Prasetyo, there are a total of 63 locations and two Mitra Tani horticulture markets (PMTH). The surging prices of onion occurred after the Eid festival, exacerbated by flood in Central Java, which is the hub of onion production. The flood has completely destroyed more than 7,500 hectares of agricultural land and damaged additional 2,500 hectares.
(IO/ Faisal Ramadhan)