Beef Demand Up by 100 percent During Ramadan

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Market’s demand for beef during Ramadan is very high and prices are likely to stay at the range of Rp120,000 per kilogram. Meanwhile, the Government has anticipated it through market operations.

"The price is greatly influenced by the high demand ahead of fasting month which is almost double than usual," said Commission IV deputy chairman Herman Khairon in Jakarta, Thursday (6/9).

He stated that the current demand may reach 100 to 120 thousand tons, whereas in normal day it only reach 50 thousand tons a month. This situation, he added, occurs all over the country, which led business actors to take advantage of this situation. 

The Government is challenged to meet this increased demand, Mr. Khairun said. 

He emphasized that this challenge will be addressed well, especially with the Food Act being enacted. The Government, he said, must be able to manage people’s food needs since it’s a part of basic human rights.

According to him, in order to be effective, the country should at least control 20 percent of people’s needs. The Food Act mandates that the state should establish a National Food Agency which is able to control the national food needs and which lies directly under the control of the president. (Translator: Siti Chodijah)