JAYAPURA - The State Civil Apparatus (ASN) within the Papua Provincial Government is urged to start planting chili peppers in the yard of the house ahead of the beginning of Ramadhan which is expected on March 22-23, 2023.
This was conveyed by the Acting Assistant for Economic Affairs and People Welfare of the Papua, Suzana Wanggai in Jayapura, Tuesday.
She said that planting chili is aimed at anticipating the surge in commodities ahead of the month of Ramadhan until Eid al-Fitr at the end of April 2023.
"Moreover, chili is one of the commodities contributing to inflation. The price must be maintained so that it does not experience an increase ahead of the month of Ramadhan and Eid al-Fitr," she said.
Suzana said that the planting of chili in the yard of the house also followed up on the instructions of Home Minister Tito Karnavian who several times asked local governments to be able to control inflation. One of them is cooperating between regions or local governments that have surplus food to support deficit areas.
"For example, some time ago, the Papua Provincial Government supplied 1.3 tons of chili from Waropen Regency to Jayapura City."
"Because Waropen is a surplus of red chili, the Papua Provincial Government immediately intervened and distributed it to minimal areas such as Jayapura City. Likewise, for other regions, it is very important to improve coordination, " she said.
Meanwhile, Suzana ensured that it would hold regular market operations to monitor the availability of foodstuffs in the markets. There is no hoarding that has the potential to trigger an increase in food prices or inflation.
"Of course, we will control inflation in Papua together with the Papua TPID team," she said. ***