Butchers, poulterers guarantee supply for Idul Fitri
Butchers, poulterers guarantee supply for Idul Fitri
JAKARTA (JP): Markets in Jakarta have sufficient supplies of beef and chicken to meet demand ahead of and during this weekend's Idul Fitri holiday, butchers and poulterers said on Wednesday.
The price of beef and chicken has already risen, they said, but because there is no shortage of supplies these price rises are likely to be dampened.
The price of beef in three markets -- Kramat Jati in East Jakarta, Cikini in Central Jakarta and PSPT Tebet in South Jakarta -- ranged from between Rp 30,000 and Rp 40,000 per kilogram on Wednesday, compared to an average of Rp 26,000 per kilogram on normal days.
Traders said the prices would continue to rise, increasing daily by an average of Rp 2,000 per kilogram in the week leading up to Idul Fitri.
Daily beef demand during Idul Fitri traditionally doubles or triples over the level of demand at other times of the year.
Most butchers in the markets said they procured their beef from the government-owned cattle feedlot and slaughterhouse in Cakung, East Jakarta. The Cakung facility, which receives its cattle from eastern Indonesia, supplies most of the meat for Greater Jakarta.
Indonesian beef is more popular among Jakartans than higher grade Australian beef, even when the Australian beef is Rp 4,000 per kilogram cheaper, Tubagus Sutrisna, a butcher at Pasar Cikini, said.
He said Indonesians were more confident the local meat was halal (allowed under Islamic law). "Local products are sought after because they are always processed and cultivated using techniques that are in harmony with Islamic standards."
He said he was tripling his procurement of beef to 150 kilograms a day for the next three days to meet growing demand.
Most poulterers in Jakarta's main markets purchase chickens from poultry farms in Kebon Kelapa, Cileungsi and Cibinong in Bogor.
Demand for chicken traditionally doubles during Idul Fitri, and prices this year have ranged from between Rp 12,000 and Rp 15,000 per kilogram compared to the usual price of Rp 9,000 per kilogram.
"Prices could increase by an average of Rp 1,500 a day in the week before Idul Fitri," Ngatirah, a poulterer in Pasar Cikini, said, adding however that prices should not exceed Rp 15,000 per kilogram.
The Ministry of Agriculture has taken steps to ensure sufficient beef supplies for the capital, bringing in livestock from other provinces and importing beef from Australia and Ireland.
The ministry predicted some 9,568 tons of beef would be consumed by residents of Greater Jakarta during the 50-day period covering the fasting month of Ramadhan, Christmas, New Year's and Idul Fitri.
To government has ordered 12,000 tons of beef for this period to keep a lid on the price increases which most years accompany the surge in demand.
The government has also procured 26 million chickens from poultry farms in Java and Lampung to meet demand and stabilize prices at between Rp 12,000 and Rp 15,000 per kilogram.(06)