Jakarta, Aug. 27 -- Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian urged regional governments to actively maintain the stability of food prices as part of efforts to keep the inflation rate in check.

"When there is a Rp2,000 (around US$0.12) to Rp4,000 increase, immediately hold a meeting with the Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the Agriculture Office, the Food Affairs Office, and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin)," he said in a statement here on Wednesday.

He asked regional heads to visit markets every two weeks to check commodities that experience an increase in prices.

According to him, rice prices are the most crucial factor in controlling inflation. If the inflation rate crosses the 3 percent mark, the prices of staple goo...