Bulog chief to coordinate with associations over chilli prices reaching Rp140,000/kg
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Perum Bulog president director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani will immediately coordinate with traders and relevant associations following the discovery of red cayenne pepper prices reaching Rp140,000 per kilogram at Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta, in an effort to restore price stability.
"We will coordinate with chilli traders and chilli associations so that prices can be brought down. Hopefully they will return to standard levels ahead of Lebaran," Rizal said when contacted in Jakarta on Saturday (21/2).
Previously, Rizal together with the Food Task Force conducted a surprise inspection at Pasar Minggu on Friday (20/2). During the inspection, Rizal and his team checked stocks and prices of commodities including rice, subsidised cooking oil under the MinyaKita brand, and sugar.
During the visit, Rizal also checked prices of other strategic food items such as shallots, garlic, chicken, beef, as well as curly red chillies and red cayenne peppers.
"Indeed, from the inspection results, there are several things that require our attention. The first is chillies, I must say. Chilli prices have risen somewhat due to the rainy season. Curly red chillies, which normally cost only Rp50,000 per kilogram, have risen to Rp60,000 per kilogram," he said.
Rizal assessed the chilli price increase as still reasonable, as continuous rainfall over the past week had disrupted supply and made it difficult for distributors to prepare stock, pushing prices up by around Rp10,000.
"Meanwhile, red cayenne peppers have also experienced an increase of around Rp20,000," he added.
In response, his office will promptly coordinate with chilli traders and associations to push prices back to normal levels ahead of Lebaran.
Red cayenne pepper prices at Pasar Minggu have breached Rp140,000 per kilogram over the past two days, up from the normal range of Rp90,000 to Rp100,000 per kilogram before Ramadan.
Sarjono, a trader at the market, said the surge had occurred since the start of the fasting month. Clean-picked red cayenne peppers without stems were selling at Rp140,000, whereas previously the highest price was only around Rp90,000.
He explained that the increase was driven by weather factors. The rainy season has made farmers reluctant to harvest due to the risk of crop damage, reducing supply while market demand remains high.
For curly red chillies, prices now stand at Rp80,000 per kilogram, up from around Rp60,000 previously. Sarjono estimated prices could fall within one to two weeks before fluctuating again as Lebaran approaches.
Meanwhile, large shallots are selling at Rp60,000 per kilogram and small ones at Rp35,000, while garlic prices remain relatively stable at around Rp40,000 per kilogram.
Another Pasar Minggu trader, Komaria, said curly red chilli prices had risen to Rp60,000 per kilogram from Rp50,000 previously, in line with increasing prices since the onset of the rainy season.
For red cayenne peppers, she reported prices had surged from Rp100,000 to Rp130,000 per kilogram in recent days due to reduced supply.
According to Komaria, the increase was triggered by weather factors, as the rainy season has disrupted distribution from wholesale markets, causing stocks at the retail level to thin out.
Meanwhile, shallot prices remain normal at around Rp55,000 per kilogram and other vegetable commodities are stable, with only chillies experiencing a significant surge.
Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture together with chilli supply champions carried out a Chilli Supply Flood Action Programme at Kramat Jati Wholesale Market in Jakarta, as a price intervention effort to bring prices back within the reasonable limits set by the government.
"This step was taken following the increase in chilli prices, particularly red cayenne peppers, due to a surge in demand ahead of a period of high consumption, while some production centres are experiencing harvest gaps due to weather factors and public holidays," said Director General of Horticulture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Muhammad Taufiq Ratule, in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday (19/2).
"We will coordinate with chilli traders and chilli associations so that prices can be brought down. Hopefully they will return to standard levels ahead of Lebaran," Rizal said when contacted in Jakarta on Saturday (21/2).
Previously, Rizal together with the Food Task Force conducted a surprise inspection at Pasar Minggu on Friday (20/2). During the inspection, Rizal and his team checked stocks and prices of commodities including rice, subsidised cooking oil under the MinyaKita brand, and sugar.
During the visit, Rizal also checked prices of other strategic food items such as shallots, garlic, chicken, beef, as well as curly red chillies and red cayenne peppers.
"Indeed, from the inspection results, there are several things that require our attention. The first is chillies, I must say. Chilli prices have risen somewhat due to the rainy season. Curly red chillies, which normally cost only Rp50,000 per kilogram, have risen to Rp60,000 per kilogram," he said.
Rizal assessed the chilli price increase as still reasonable, as continuous rainfall over the past week had disrupted supply and made it difficult for distributors to prepare stock, pushing prices up by around Rp10,000.
"Meanwhile, red cayenne peppers have also experienced an increase of around Rp20,000," he added.
In response, his office will promptly coordinate with chilli traders and associations to push prices back to normal levels ahead of Lebaran.
Red cayenne pepper prices at Pasar Minggu have breached Rp140,000 per kilogram over the past two days, up from the normal range of Rp90,000 to Rp100,000 per kilogram before Ramadan.
Sarjono, a trader at the market, said the surge had occurred since the start of the fasting month. Clean-picked red cayenne peppers without stems were selling at Rp140,000, whereas previously the highest price was only around Rp90,000.
He explained that the increase was driven by weather factors. The rainy season has made farmers reluctant to harvest due to the risk of crop damage, reducing supply while market demand remains high.
For curly red chillies, prices now stand at Rp80,000 per kilogram, up from around Rp60,000 previously. Sarjono estimated prices could fall within one to two weeks before fluctuating again as Lebaran approaches.
Meanwhile, large shallots are selling at Rp60,000 per kilogram and small ones at Rp35,000, while garlic prices remain relatively stable at around Rp40,000 per kilogram.
Another Pasar Minggu trader, Komaria, said curly red chilli prices had risen to Rp60,000 per kilogram from Rp50,000 previously, in line with increasing prices since the onset of the rainy season.
For red cayenne peppers, she reported prices had surged from Rp100,000 to Rp130,000 per kilogram in recent days due to reduced supply.
According to Komaria, the increase was triggered by weather factors, as the rainy season has disrupted distribution from wholesale markets, causing stocks at the retail level to thin out.
Meanwhile, shallot prices remain normal at around Rp55,000 per kilogram and other vegetable commodities are stable, with only chillies experiencing a significant surge.
Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture together with chilli supply champions carried out a Chilli Supply Flood Action Programme at Kramat Jati Wholesale Market in Jakarta, as a price intervention effort to bring prices back within the reasonable limits set by the government.
"This step was taken following the increase in chilli prices, particularly red cayenne peppers, due to a surge in demand ahead of a period of high consumption, while some production centres are experiencing harvest gaps due to weather factors and public holidays," said Director General of Horticulture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Muhammad Taufiq Ratule, in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday (19/2).