Basic commodity prices remain high in Jakarta<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The price of staple foods in several markets in the capital
\nwas still high in the wake of the recent floods, triggering many
\neateries to raise the price of their meals.<\/p>\n
The price of beef, vegetables and chicken remained high, some
\nvendors revealed here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"The price of beef still stands at Rp 36,000 (US$3.5) per
\nkilogram (kg) to Rp 38,000 per kg,\" said Tisna, 40, a beef vendor
\nat Jatinegara traditional market in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The price of vegetables also remained at the high level
\nreached after the floods disrupted vegetable supplies into the
\ncapital, according to Edy, another vendor in Jatinegara.<\/p>\n
The price of chicken still hovered around Rp 18,000, a 12
\npercent increase from the Rp 16,000 before the floods, said
\nTanti, a meat wholesaler in Kramat Jati market in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Yuni, the owner of Warung Bersaudara on Jl. Penjernihan, said
\nthat due to the high price of staple foods, she had been forced
\nto reduce the size of her portions.<\/p>\n
\"I have also increased the price of a plate of plain rice to
\nRp 2,000 from Rp 1,500 previously, fried chicken to Rp 5,000,
\nfrom Rp 4,500, while bawal fish is Rp 4,000, from Rp 3,500,\" Yuni
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Yuni revealed that she had once replaced high-quality rice
\nwith that of lower quality, but she returned to the good quality
\nfearing she might lose her customers.<\/p>\n
The high beef price also prompted Panjul, who runs a mobile
\nbakso (meat ball soup) stall in Cawang, East Jakarta, to make
\nsmaller meatballs.<\/p>\n
\"We have maintained the old price, but slightly reduced the
\nsize of the soup portions,\" said Panjul.<\/p>\n
Another beef vendor at Jatinegara, Haryono, 40, said the price
\nof beef might increase due to higher demand ahead of the upcoming
\nMuslim Idul Adha celebration.<\/p>\n
\"Beef prices may jump to Rp 45,000 per kg in the coming
\nweeks,\" Haryono said.<\/p>\n
Idul Adha, also known as the Islamic Day of Sacrifice, falls
\non Feb.22. It has been a tradition among Muslims to slaughter
\ncattle as a religious symbol of sacrifice.<\/p>\n
According to Haryono, the beef price soared to Rp 45,000 per
\nkg to Rp 50,000 per kg before Idul Fitri last December, a more
\nthan 60 percent increase from the previous Rp 30,000 per kg.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Tanti said that the price of chicken might also
\nrise owing to stronger demand during the Muslim haj pilgrimage
\nseason.<\/p>\n
\"But the price hike will likely be short-lived because the
\nsupply of chickens will increase as the current rainy season
\nmakes chickens grow faster,\" said Tanti. \"They eat a lot and
\ndrink less so they grow fast.\"<\/p>\n
With regard to the price of vegetables, Mamat, a vendor in
\nKramat Jati, attributed high prices to reduced supplies entering
\nthe markets.<\/p>\n
\"The rainy season causes farmers to delay their planting.
\nMaybe, in two months' to three months' time, the supply of
\nvegetables will return to normal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
While the price of these staple foods remained high, rice
\nprices slightly declined by an average of 7 percent due to
\nabundant supplies following the recent harvest.<\/p>\n
\"However, should the rain persist, the price of rice is likely
\nto rise. Sunshine is needed to dry unhusked rice,\" said Tatang, a
\nrice wholesaler at Palmerah market in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The price of rice returned to normal, at Rp 150,000 to Rp
\n180,000 per 50-kg sack, or the same as before the floods hit the
\ncity.<\/p>",
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