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)