A controlled atmosphere storage (CAS) machine in Kramat Jati Market, East Jakarta is finally operated. Using the machine, food staples like onion and chili pepper can be stored and maintain its quality up to six months.

" Besides temperature, it is also able to set oxygen. Thus the stored product can be durable"

Acting Jakarta Governor, Djarot Saiful Hidayat disclosed, technology used is local brand from Kudus, Central Java. One machine can spend Rp 1.2 billion.

"Besides temperature, it is also able to set oxygen. Thus the stored product can be durable," he stated, Tuesday (6/6).

He explains its existence is for the short term, to protect food quality thus the product supply will always be maintained. By so, price in the market is relatively stable, including inflation.

"And the long term is for food sovereignty. Thus the government can control the purchase price in farmers as well," he stated.

Further, he explains, in harvest season, the farmer's commodity price is prone to cheating from speculators and mafia. Not only control price, they also often conduct hoarding thus it has negative impact on price in the market.

"That's why we buy the machine, we can directly buy from the farmer and store here. When the price is high, we can anticipate it through our stock," he stated. 

PD Pasar Jaya Director, Arief Nasrudin added, his side only has one machine with a capacity of 16-20 tons. In future, it will be added up to three units.

"We'll do it gradually," he closed.