Raise Yield of Basis Needs to Control Prices: Vice President

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- The government needs to increase the production of basic commodities to control their prices, particularly ahead of the festivities that follow the fasting month, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said.

"Production and stock ensure security of basic needs, not presidential regulations," Kalla stated at the Vice Presidential Office here on Friday.

Not all problems can be resolved through presidential regulations, he added.

"If all problems are settled by issuing presidential regulations, it would be too easy. But ensuring production in large quantities is important," he noted in response to efforts to control the prices of commodities that began to rise in the run-up to the fasting month.

The prices of basic commodities in traditional markets in Denpasar, Bali, soared 50 percent due to high demand and low stocks, an Antara journalist observed.

The price of tomato surged to Rp6,000 per kilogram from Rp3,000 per kilogram, and the price of red chili rose to Rp18,000 per kilogram from Rp15,000 per kilogram.

To prevent an unreasonable rise in the prices of basic commodities, the Jambi provincial government held a coordination meeting among relevant agencies.

The result of a survey held in several traditional markets in Jambi revealed that the prices of basic commodities began showing signs of steady rise.

The provincial government has coordinated with relevant parties to interfere in the market and conduct market operations when the prices of commodities cannot be controlled. (WDY)