Deputy Food Minister Says Chilli Prices Change Every Hour, Here's the Solution

Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food (Wamenko Pangan) Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has highlighted the high volatility of chilli prices, which he says can change very rapidly, even within hours. The government is therefore pushing to strengthen information systems and supply chain management from the farmer level to the market in order to maintain price stability while protecting both producers and consumers. “We know chilli prices can rise and fall quickly. The price movement can even change every hour. Because of that, information must be jointly safeguarded so the supply chain runs well and farmers are not disadvantaged,” Hanif Faisol said in a statement on Thursday (18/6/2026). The statement came amid a rising trend in red chilli prices across various regions. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows the national average price of red chillies reached Rp56,537 per kilogramme by the second week of June 2026, an increase of 11.86% compared to May 2026. Price increases were recorded in 286 regencies and cities, or around 79.44% of Indonesia’s territory, prompting the government to continue boosting production to secure supply and control food inflation. Hanif noted that chillies are one of the food commodities with a significant influence on inflation, particularly in South Kalimantan. Strengthening production centres is therefore considered an important step to maintain supply and price balance in the market. “Chillies are one of the contributors to inflation in South Kalimantan. The contribution of Hulu Sungai Selatan is very large in maintaining the price stability of this commodity,” he said. According to Hanif, chilli cultivation also faces its own challenges because the plant is quite sensitive to weather changes, especially during high rainfall. Proper assistance and management are therefore needed to keep productivity stable. In line with this, Hanif participated in a chilli harvest on land belonging to the Gawi Bersama Farmers Group in Tawia Village, Angkinang District, Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency, South Kalimantan, as part of the national priority programme for Food, Energy, and Water Self-Sufficiency Zones (KSPEAN). The programme is being prepared by the government to strengthen food security while maintaining price stability for strategic commodities. Tawia Village is one of the areas proposed for inclusion in the KSPEAN programme. The government plans to develop 20 hectares of chilli land in the region. Currently, around 5 hectares have been planted with chillies by the Gawi Bersama Farmers Group. The development of the chilli zone in Hulu Sungai Selatan is expected to increase the region’s horticultural production while strengthening supply availability in South Kalimantan. This effort is part of the government’s strategy to maintain chilli price stability, which remains under pressure in various parts of Indonesia.