Bapanas: Chilli prices drop uniformly from wholesale markets to retail markets

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) states that chilli prices have experienced a simultaneous decline from wholesale markets to retail markets, thereby helping to maintain food price stability following Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah.

Deputy for Food Availability and Stabilisation at Bapanas, I Gusti Ketut Astawa, said that the chilli commodity, particularly red bird’s eye chillies, had seen a significant price increase during Ramadan, but is now starting to fall.

“Post-Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, chilli prices have decreased and are approaching the reference consumer selling price,” Ketut stated in Jakarta on Sunday.

He mentioned that chilli prices at Kramat Jati Wholesale Market in Jakarta have uniformly dropped.

For red bird’s eye chillies, prices range from Rp45,000 to Rp60,000 per kilogram (kg), depending on quality.

Meanwhile, curly red bird’s eye chilli prices have also stabilised in the range of Rp15,000 to Rp25,000 per kg.

“The prices are relatively good. Red bird’s eye chillies are around Rp60,000 (per kg). This drop is very good. Curly red chillies are even around Rp40,000. This means prices here are relatively very good,” Ketut said.

Furthermore, he noted that based on monitoring at retail markets, including Ciputat Market in South Tangerang, Banten, red bird’s eye chilli prices have reached Rp60,000 per kg.

“For curly red chillies at Ciputat Market, traders are pricing them around Rp40,000 per kg,” he explained.

Previously, the government had intervened by supplying red bird’s eye chillies to Kramat Jati Wholesale Market.

Bapanas covered the shipping costs from Champion Chilli Enrekang in South Sulawesi, amounting to 3,150 kg, so that selling prices at the wholesale market could be lower.

On the other hand, Ketut continued, price and supply conditions at Pare Wholesale Market in Kediri are also observed to have experienced a significant correction.

Red bird’s eye chilli prices there range from Rp33,000 to Rp57,000 per kg, depending on quality. Curly red chilli prices are also in an affordable range, namely Rp20,000 to Rp22,000 per kg.

The decline in red bird’s eye chilli prices in various locations is attributed to weather factors that better support farmers’ harvesting activities in recent weeks. Public demand has also tended to normalise after Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

“Moreover, the monthly production projection for red bird’s eye chillies in March is quite increased compared to the previous month,” he added.

He stated that the food balance projection for red bird’s eye chillies estimates production in March to reach 164,600 tonnes. This figure is up 16.4% from February’s production of 141,300 tonnes.

Furthermore, in the Price Development Index (IPH) data for the second week of March or ahead of Eid al-Fitr, the IPH for red bird’s eye chillies rose in 198 regencies/cities, but 48 regencies/cities still recorded prices within the HAP limit of Rp57,000 per kg.

Meanwhile, the IPH for curly red chillies rose in 131 regencies/cities. However, 97 regencies/cities remain within reasonable price ranges as they do not exceed the maximum consumer-level HAP of Rp55,000 per kg.

Previously, Bapanas Head and Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that slight price increases in certain commodities should also be viewed as part of market balance so that food producers continue to receive fair and good economic benefits.

Nevertheless, Amran emphasised that he would eradicate practices by intermediary traders or middlemen who are the root cause of food price anomalies.

According to him, the public must not face difficulties in accessing food prices as stipulated by the government.

He also urged the National Food Task Force across Indonesia not to hesitate to seal operations if they find individuals causing food prices to rise.