Household Management in the Mid of Soaring Prices
Idul Fitri, more commonly referred to in Indonesia as Lebaran is the time most mothers prepare different dishes rather than their regular days. They feel insecure if they do not prepare such special dishes, though in reality the foods we consume in that special month are almost similar. With the almost similar dishes, for this special month some studies show that the demand for the special food such as meat, eggs, flour and chicken have increased by 10-15%.
The expenses for such items have weakened the consumers financial, but they are profitable for merchants. The consumers should learn that they should consume a varied diet and do not necessarily have to provide traditional food for Lebaran, but they better to replace them with other type of good but economical cuisine, "said Dr. Ir. Yayuk F. Baliwati, MS, the lecturer of the Department of Community Nutrition Faculty of Human Ecology (FEMA) Bogor Agricultural University in afternoon Dialogue on RRI Bogor, 9 August 2011.
As a restaurant manager in the household level (housewife) should have tips that contribute to reduce prices. If we are unable to buy certain food, we should think of the cheaper substitute materials. Let’s say, if meat is too expensive for us, we can replace such food with beans that are protein rich as meat but lesser in price. Thus, if no demand then prices will go down automatically. Meanwhile, to anticipate the rising of food prices, we should apply consumption patterns based on balanced nutrition that require balance portion between dishes and vegetables. Whereas the government anticipation is the market operation.
According to him, if far before the Ied is coming, the government has discussed on the demand and supply of the basic needs, the government will be able to control the prices to remain stable. A good mechanism, ideally there should be the working teams to monitor food prices daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis to map the pattern of increase. But sometimes respond of the government to react to the price movements is slower compare to the respond of the traders," he added
Meanwhile, speculators have observed consumers behavior for years. These actually the jobs of the food security unit both in the national as well as the regional levels. They should consolidate with the Ministries of Trade and the Transportation, respectively. As they can not work alone, but depend very much on the products and the effectiveness of the distribution.
In many regions the Government has assigned the inflation control teams, that call meetings every month to discuss price changes. The teams have good working mechanism, except for their working loads capacity. Thus, they seem that they do not so serious to control the inflation in the regions. (Wied).
