Govt to Crack Down on Food Price Manipulation Ahead of Year-End Holidays

Jakarta: Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman has warned business actors against manipulating food commodity prices, citing steady growth in national food stocks and the government’s commitment to safeguarding purchasing power and food security.

He stressed that the government will take firm action against stakeholders found selling food commodities above the highest retail price (HET), especially as demand is expected to increase ahead of the 2025 Christmas and 2026 New Year holidays.

“We and all food stakeholders have agreed to oppose practices that violate the HET and to take concrete steps to maintain price stability at the consumer level,” Sulaiman said during a food coordination meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, as quoted from Antara on Friday.

Sulaiman, who also chairs the National Food Agency (Bapanas), said the government will no longer issue warnings to violators, noting that enforcement measures are now in place.

“Those found violating the HET will face sanctions, and the Food Task Force will take direct action on the ground,” he said.

He added that strict compliance with price regulations is increasingly reasonable, as Indonesia is recording sufficient food production and supply nationwide.

“National stocks of key food commodities, including chicken and eggs, are more than adequate. Most importantly, rice prices are trending downward,” he said, adding that a similar trend is seen in cooking oil prices.

According to Sulaiman, the government’s firm stance reflects its commitment to maintaining a healthy balance across production and distribution chains, while protecting the interests of farmers, traders, and consumers.

“In essence, we want farmers to benefit, traders to remain profitable, and consumers to feel secure,” he said.

The government will also tighten supervision during the upcoming year-end holiday period to ensure food supplies remain sufficient and prices stay under control.