Garlic and Tomato Prices Soar in Mataram, US Dollar Blamed as Trigger
The prices of garlic and tomatoes in several traditional markets in Mataram City have risen ahead of Galungan and Kuningan. The strengthening United States dollar exchange rate is being blamed as one of the triggers for this week’s soaring staple food prices.
Based on data from the Mataram City Trade Office (Disdag), the price of garlic has increased from Rp 28,000 to Rp 42,000 per kilogram. The price of bird’s eye chillies rose from Rp 40,000 to Rp 75,000 per kilogram. Tomato prices also climbed from Rp 4,000 to Rp 15,000 per kilogram.
“The current price of bird’s eye chillies is Rp 70,000 to Rp 75,000 per kilogram. The supply of chillies has somewhat decreased and was stagnant. Last night, original local chillies arrived from Sumbawa, several tonnes entered our distributors,” said Sri Wahyunida, Head of the Basic and Essential Goods Division at the Mataram City Trade Office, in an interview on Wednesday.
Not only have bird’s eye chilli prices risen ahead of Galungan and Kuningan, but garlic prices have also increased from the previous Rp 28,000 per kilogram to now reach Rp 40,000 to Rp 45,000 per kilogram. According to Nida, the increase in garlic prices in several traditional markets in Mataram City is strongly suspected to be due to the recent surge of the dollar against the rupiah.
“Garlic is currently experiencing an increase, now Rp 40,000 per kilogram. One of the triggers is the dollar’s rise. The majority of this garlic is imported, mostly from China,” Nida explained.
Meanwhile, fresh tomato prices have also seen an increase ahead of Galungan and Kuningan, rising by Rp 15,000 to Rp 20,000 per kilogram from the previous price of Rp 4,000 per kilogram. To anticipate price spikes in several traditional markets, the Mataram Trade Office will take intervention steps, namely a cheap market movement.
“We will monitor the developments. Prices have only been rising for two days; we will look again after a week. We have also prepared anticipatory measures; perhaps we will hold a cheap market operation (OPM) related to the increase in several of these commodities,” she stated.
According to monitoring at Pagesangan Market, tomato prices have risen to Rp 18,000 to over Rp 20,000 per kilogram. Garlic prices subsequently soared to Rp 45,000 to Rp 50,000 per kilogram. “In recent days, the prices of these alliums have started to rise. The wholesalers said the dollar is up, so everything has gone up,” said trader Anah in an interview on Wednesday. She noted that buyers have complained and grumbled upon learning of the price hikes. “Many are grumbling, some say yesterday it was cheap, now it’s expensive. But what can be done, the prices have indeed risen from the supplier,” she revealed.