Palu City re-registers food distributors to maintain price stability

The Palu City government is undertaking a comprehensive re-registration of its strategic food distributors as a concrete measure to bolster food security within the region. Rahmad Mustafa, the Assistant for Economic Affairs and Development, highlighted that this inventory process is crucial for developing effective cooperation schemes.

Next week, city officials will convene with approximately 32 key food distributors to finalize a collaborative framework involving the local government, distributors, and relevant technical agencies. This partnership is designed to guarantee sufficient food supplies for the populace and maintain stable prices for commodities at the distributor level. "We want to ensure food availability in Palu City and control prices at the distributor level," Rahmad stated.

Beyond price stabilization, Palu aims to strengthen its local food supply chain by encouraging stronger relationships between distributors and local farmer groups. This approach seeks to ensure that local agricultural products are prioritized to meet the city's needs before being distributed elsewhere, thereby significantly supporting local food resilience. Rahmad emphasized that while coordination already exists, the upcoming forum is expected to solidify commitment from all parties involved.

Distributors involved will cover essential commodities such as cooking oil, eggs, and chicken meat. Rahmad clarified that this initiative is purely precautionary and aims to reinforce cooperation, not a response to existing supply disruptions or price surges. "This is not because there is a problem. We are ensuring that the condition of affordable and stable food prices is maintained," he added.