REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Ministry of Agriculture and the National Logistics Board (Bulog) will carry out market operations in 12 retail markets in Jakarta and its surrounding areas, ahead of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

"In the first phase, market operations will be conducted in Kramat Jati, Jatinegara, Klender, Rawasari, Cikini, Palmerah, Pasar Minggu, Kebayoran Lama, Kampung Bahari, Kalibaru Grogol and Depok," Director General of Horticulture of the Ministry of Agriculture Spudnik Sujono said here on Tuesday.

The markets were selected based on projections that they were likely to witness significant price hikes till the Idul Fitri festivities that follow the fasting month, Sujono explained.

The operations will be stopped when prices drop or are stabilized in accordance with the public's purchasing power, he added.

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman noted that food stocks for the Ramadan period are adequate to meet demand.

"We have coordinated with market managers (to ensure that) they have stock of 140 to 150 tons of chili per day and 80 to 90 tons of onion per day," Sulaiman stated while inspecting Kramat Jati Main Market in east Jakarta on Monday.

Rice stock in Cipinang Main Market now amounts to 3,500 tons per day from the usual stock of 2,500 tons per day, he pointed out.

On Monday, President Joko Widodo had officiated the launch of simultaneous market operations for food commodities to be conducted by state-owned logistics board Bulog.

The launch of the simultaneous market operations was held at the Bulog office in Cimahi, West Java.

President Director of Bulog Djarot Kusumayakti said in his report that Bulog was preparing 30 trucks to conduct market operations for rice, cooking oil and shallots in West Java.

He affirmed that that the logistics board had prepared adequate stocks of rice, shallots, cooking oil and kerosene.

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