Basic commodity prices remain high in Jakarta

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.