Basic commodity prices remain high in Jakarta

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The price of staple foods in several markets in the capital was still high in the wake of the recent floods, triggering many eateries to raise the price of their meals.

The price of beef, vegetables and chicken remained high, some vendors revealed here on Wednesday.

"The price of beef still stands at Rp 36,000 (US$3.5) per kilogram (kg) to Rp 38,000 per kg," said Tisna, 40, a beef vendor at Jatinegara traditional market in East Jakarta.

The price of vegetables also remained at the high level reached after the floods disrupted vegetable supplies into the capital, according to Edy, another vendor in Jatinegara.

The price of chicken still hovered around Rp 18,000, a 12 percent increase from the Rp 16,000 before the floods, said Tanti, a meat wholesaler in Kramat Jati market in East Jakarta.

Yuni, the owner of Warung Bersaudara on Jl. Penjernihan, said that due to the high price of staple foods, she had been forced to reduce the size of her portions.

"I have also increased the price of a plate of plain rice to Rp 2,000 from Rp 1,500 previously, fried chicken to Rp 5,000, from Rp 4,500, while bawal fish is Rp 4,000, from Rp 3,500," Yuni said.

Yuni revealed that she had once replaced high-quality rice with that of lower quality, but she returned to the good quality fearing she might lose her customers.

The high beef price also prompted Panjul, who runs a mobile bakso (meat ball soup) stall in Cawang, East Jakarta, to make smaller meatballs.

"We have maintained the old price, but slightly reduced the size of the soup portions," said Panjul.

Another beef vendor at Jatinegara, Haryono, 40, said the price of beef might increase due to higher demand ahead of the upcoming Muslim Idul Adha celebration.

"Beef prices may jump to Rp 45,000 per kg in the coming weeks," Haryono said.

Idul Adha, also known as the Islamic Day of Sacrifice, falls on Feb.22. It has been a tradition among Muslims to slaughter cattle as a religious symbol of sacrifice.

According to Haryono, the beef price soared to Rp 45,000 per kg to Rp 50,000 per kg before Idul Fitri last December, a more than 60 percent increase from the previous Rp 30,000 per kg.

Meanwhile, Tanti said that the price of chicken might also rise owing to stronger demand during the Muslim haj pilgrimage season.

"But the price hike will likely be short-lived because the supply of chickens will increase as the current rainy season makes chickens grow faster," said Tanti. "They eat a lot and drink less so they grow fast."

With regard to the price of vegetables, Mamat, a vendor in Kramat Jati, attributed high prices to reduced supplies entering the markets.

"The rainy season causes farmers to delay their planting. Maybe, in two months' to three months' time, the supply of vegetables will return to normal," he said.

While the price of these staple foods remained high, rice prices slightly declined by an average of 7 percent due to abundant supplies following the recent harvest.

"However, should the rain persist, the price of rice is likely to rise. Sunshine is needed to dry unhusked rice," said Tatang, a rice wholesaler at Palmerah market in West Jakarta.

The price of rice returned to normal, at Rp 150,000 to Rp 180,000 per 50-kg sack, or the same as before the floods hit the city.