Food prices rises mark the first day of Ramadhan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The price of Indonesia's staple foods have
\nincreased at the city's traditional markets on the first day of
\nRamadhan, ahead of the coming Idul Fitri holidays on Feb. 9 and
\n10.<\/p>\n
National Logistics Agency chairman Beddu Amang said yesterday
\nthe price hikes were still within a normal range but said prices
\nwould rise sharply about a week before Idil Fitri.<\/p>\n
\"However, the agency will control price hikes during the
\nfasting month,\" Beddu said during a visit to South Jakarta's
\nPasar Minggu market and East Jakarta's Jatinegara market to
\nmonitor food prices.<\/p>\n
Some commodities' prices were prone to increases during
\nRamadhan. To control price rises the agency conducts irregular
\noperations at traditional markets.<\/p>\n
The biggest price rises were milkfish (20 percent), which was
\nsold for Rp 9,000, and chicken (33 percent), sold for Rp 6,000 a
\nkilo.<\/p>\n
Rice prices had risen 10 to 20 percent depending on the rice's
\nquality.<\/p>\n
Beddu said rice prices would be stabile until the next
\nharvesting season in March because the country had a large
\nsupply.<\/p>\n
\"We can provide 2,000 tons of rice every day,\" Beddu said,
\nadding that less than 1,500 tons daily would mean a rice
\nshortage.<\/p>\n
Responding to vendors' complaints about a lack of glutinous
\nrice, he said it still had to be imported from Thailand.<\/p>\n
\"Thailand itself is also in need of the commodity,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, regular beef was sold for about Rp 12,500 a kilo,
\nonly a four percent rise.<\/p>\n
Last year red chili was in great demand causing a big price
\nrise but this year red chili was selling for Rp 4,000 a kilo,
\nmuch lower than last year.<\/p>\n
Many people planted red chilies this year despite the prospect
\nof bad crops during the wet season, Beddu said.<\/p>\n
The chili sold for as much as Rp 20,000 a kilo last Idil Fitri
\nbut would not get more expensive than Rp 7,500 a kilo this year.<\/p>\n
One shopper at Pasar Jatinegara complained about price rises
\nof several basic foods like flour and butter.<\/p>\n
\"It costs me a lot more to bake cookies for the holiday now,\"
\nthe shopper said.<\/p>\n
Cooking oil and sugar prices have not increased so far. (02)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/food-prices-rises-mark-the-first-day-of-ramadhan-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }