North Sumatra Province Launches Affordable Food Initiative to Control Inflation

The North Sumatra Provincial Government is launching a synchronized affordable food initiative across the region, aiming to stabilize market prices and curb local inflation. This program is designed to ensure food availability and enhance purchasing power for residents.

The initial phase of this province-wide initiative is scheduled for August 27, 28, and 31, 2026. Following this, the program will become a regular monthly event, occurring four times between September and December 2026. A variety of staple goods will be offered at accessible prices, including SPHP, medium, and premium rice, as well as "Minyak Kita" cooking oil.

Beyond rice and oil, consumers can also purchase red chilies, bird's eye chilies, tomatoes, red onions, broiler chicken, beef, chicken eggs, corn, and sardines. The Head of the North Sumatra Department of Agriculture and Food Security, Fariz Haholongan Hutagalung, emphasized that the program's success relies on strong cross-sectoral synergy.

This collaborative effort includes the Department of Agriculture and Food Security, the Department of Industry, Trade, Energy and Mineral Resources, the Department of Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services, and the Regional Secretariat's Bureau of Economy. Additionally, it involves relevant regional apparatuses, Perum Bulog, numerous distributors, food business actors, the Regional Inflation Control Team (TPID), and Bank Indonesia representatives in North Sumatra, Pematangsiantar, and Sibolga.

The affordable food movement specifically targets areas with high inflation rates and price change indices. A circular from the Governor of North Sumatra mandates all stakeholders to work together to reduce inflation and maintain public purchasing power. This collaboration aims to unify supply data, identify vulnerable regions, strengthen food distribution coordination, and stabilize prices and availability across the province. The provincial government is optimistic about maintaining regional food security and fostering a stable economic climate in North Sumatra through the end of the year.