Continuing her series of working visits to border areas, Natuna Regent Cen Sui Lan inspected the Affordable Food Market held at the Midai District Multipurpose Hall area on Monday afternoon (24/11). The Regent’s presence reaffirmed the regional government’s commitment to ensuring food availability while providing affordable prices for residents in the outermost islands.
Upon arrival, Regent Cen Sui Lan was warmly welcomed by residents who had gathered since midday. A variety of essential goods—such as rice, cooking oil, sugar, eggs, and other commodities—were sold at prices lower than the market rate. Public enthusiasm was evident from the long queues at every booth.
During the inspection, the Regent engaged in dialogue with vendors and residents to hear firsthand about food prices and supply conditions in Midai District. She stated that the Affordable Food Market program is not only aimed at controlling regional inflation, but also serves as a strategic step toward strengthening food self-sufficiency among local communities. She wants to ensure that residents are not entirely dependent on external supplies but are encouraged to develop local food resources.
Cen Sui Lan mentioned that the regional government is currently working to strengthen agriculture, fisheries, and local MSMEs as part of the food self-sufficiency initiative. She hopes that the people of Midai and Suak Midai will maximize their natural resources to increase sustainable local food production.
In addition to the inspection, the Regent also reviewed stock availability prepared by related government offices and ensured smooth distribution. She requested that the Affordable Food Market continue to be held regularly, especially in areas with limited logistical access. According to her, this effort is crucial to maintaining price stability and supporting residents’ purchasing power.
Residents responded positively to the event, expressing that the lower prices were very helpful and appreciating the government’s direct attention to their situation. Several community members hoped similar programs would be held more frequently, particularly ahead of major holidays or during extreme weather seasons.
The Midai inspection is part of a broader agenda in which the Regent also plans to implement similar programs in Suak Midai District. She emphasized that ensuring equal access to food across all areas of Natuna remains a top priority for the local government.
With the conclusion of the inspection, the Regent expressed hope that collaboration between the government, business actors, and the community will continue to strengthen. She stressed that building food resilience and self-sufficiency cannot be achieved by the government alone, but requires collective effort to improve the welfare of the Natuna community. (Prokopim/Patli)
RILIS PERS, Number : 0564/PRO_KOPIM/2025
