Jakarta says heavy rainfall drives up prices of horticultural commodities

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The head of the DKI Jakarta Office of Food Security, Maritime Affairs and Agriculture Service (KPKP), Hasudungan A. Sidabalok, said that high rainfall in producing areas is one of the triggers driving up prices of several horticultural commodities in Jakarta. The most significant increase occurred in red bird’s-eye chillies (cabai rawit merah), now selling at Rp80,000 per kilogram. “The rise in prices of horticultural commodities is caused by the ongoing high rainfall in producing areas, which has reduced production due to lower quality and increased attacks by plant pests and diseases (OPT),” Hasudungan said in Jakarta on Wednesday. Based on monitoring in the second week of May 2026, several horticultural commodities have risen in price compared with the previous week. Red bird’s-eye chillies recorded the highest increase, at 12.12 percent or Rp8,689 per kg, from Rp71,664 to Rp80,354 per kg. Additionally, curly red chillies rose by 5.61 percent or Rp2,926 per kg, from Rp52,117 to Rp55,103 per kg. The price of red onions also increased by 3.96 percent from Rp52,615 to Rp54,697 per kg. Meanwhile, large red chillies rose by 3.84 percent from Rp60,069 to Rp62,375 per kg. Green bird’s-eye chillies increased by 3.05 percent from Rp58,166 to Rp59,939 per kg. In addition to rainfall, Hasudungan explained there has been increased market demand ahead of the Idul Adha religious holiday, which has led to higher prices for chilli and onions. “In the run-up to Idul Adha—National Religious Holiday (HBKN)—there is increased market demand, which has caused higher prices for chilli and onions,” Hasudungan said. He added that the DKI Jakarta Provincial KPKP Service regularly conducts supervision both directly in the field and via the food price monitoring application site, including the Food Price Information (IPJ).