Plan to import chili shocks the House

Plan to import chili shocks the House

JAKARTA (JP): Clear reasons must be given for why the government plans to import chilies and meat, according to a member of the House of Representatives.

Imam Churmen, deputy chairman of Commission IV, which deals with, among other things, agriculture, said he could understand the government's policy but enquiries must be made to find out why the price of the chili has been soaring without good reason.

"Thorough studies must be made and don't use imports as the answer to the rocketing prices of commodities," he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture should have handled this horticultural problem, he added.

The short supply of chilies was probably caused by disrupted transportation due to the recent floods. "But there is also a possibility that speculators' might also have played a role," Imam was quoted by Antara as saying.

Imam's statements referred to the National Logistic Agency's plan to import red chilies from Thailand.

The agency head, Beddu Amang said on Monday that the agency had supplied a total of 18 tons of red chilies from Central Java to markets in Jakarta in effort to curb the lofty price of the commodity.

If the price of chilies cannot be controlled imports from Thailand are likely, Beddu said. He added imports could hamper both importers and local farmers. (sur)