Food prices rises mark the first day of Ramadhan

JAKARTA (JP): The price of Indonesia's staple foods have increased at the city's traditional markets on the first day of Ramadhan, ahead of the coming Idul Fitri holidays on Feb. 9 and 10.

National Logistics Agency chairman Beddu Amang said yesterday the price hikes were still within a normal range but said prices would rise sharply about a week before Idil Fitri.

"However, the agency will control price hikes during the fasting month," Beddu said during a visit to South Jakarta's Pasar Minggu market and East Jakarta's Jatinegara market to monitor food prices.

Some commodities' prices were prone to increases during Ramadhan. To control price rises the agency conducts irregular operations at traditional markets.

The biggest price rises were milkfish (20 percent), which was sold for Rp 9,000, and chicken (33 percent), sold for Rp 6,000 a kilo.

Rice prices had risen 10 to 20 percent depending on the rice's quality.

Beddu said rice prices would be stabile until the next harvesting season in March because the country had a large supply.

"We can provide 2,000 tons of rice every day," Beddu said, adding that less than 1,500 tons daily would mean a rice shortage.

Responding to vendors' complaints about a lack of glutinous rice, he said it still had to be imported from Thailand.

"Thailand itself is also in need of the commodity," he said.

Meanwhile, regular beef was sold for about Rp 12,500 a kilo, only a four percent rise.

Last year red chili was in great demand causing a big price rise but this year red chili was selling for Rp 4,000 a kilo, much lower than last year.

Many people planted red chilies this year despite the prospect of bad crops during the wet season, Beddu said.

The chili sold for as much as Rp 20,000 a kilo last Idil Fitri but would not get more expensive than Rp 7,500 a kilo this year.

One shopper at Pasar Jatinegara complained about price rises of several basic foods like flour and butter.

"It costs me a lot more to bake cookies for the holiday now," the shopper said.

Cooking oil and sugar prices have not increased so far. (02)