The national chili crisis

The national chili crisis

Indonesia, known as the Spice Islands from the dawn of civilization, is facing an unprecedented crisis: a shortage of red chilies.

The soaring prices of red chilies is causing great consternation among the public which never dreamed a shortage of that commodity possible.

Although a shortage may seem to be an inconsequential matter when observed from a distance, households across the nation are feeling the pinch because red chilies are an essential element of the nation's cuisine. This shortage has reminded us that to the vast majority of Indonesians, chilies are as vital as electricity, whose true significance is only felt when there is a power blackout.

For outsiders, the idea that a shortage of red chilies could cause a crisis at all may seem a bit outrageous. However, it must be remembered that chilies have been a central part of the diet of the people of this archipelago for centuries. No dish in this country, where more than 100 ethnic groups live, is considered palatable without the spicy presence of red chilies.

It is no wonder that a shortage of this agricultural product has sparked consternation nationwide, especially among housewives. And because the shortage has emerged and pushed up prices during the fasting month being observed by the some 170 million Moslems living in Indonesia, its import is immense.

The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that no government agency has come forward to shed any light on why such a surprising turn of events could have come about. And the people are at a loss as where to register their complaints about the rocketing price of this important commodity.

The National Logistics Agency (Bulog) has simply moved to try to see that an adequate amount of red chilies reach Jakarta's markets. This move, however, does not help much because in many minds it constitutes reaction rather than curative action. It has also left many people asking:"Is the situation such that Bulog, whose responsibility is to stabilize rice and flour prices, now has to expand its duties to include chilies?"

News reports that the government will soon import chilies have added to the public's confusion and concern. To most Indonesians this sounds more unbelievable than any of the other imports to date.

Clearly, an explanation is urgently needed to clarify why chilies have become so scarce and what in our system has caused this to happen.

To add to the seriousness of the situation, reports say that the shortage of chilies is not the only one facing the nation. Fertilizer is also hard to find today and beer, a basic commodity for the resort island of Bali, has also mysteriously disappeared.

In facing such situations, the people have a habit of addressing their questions to God Almighty. In their hearts they are asking whether these exceptional shortages are related to the other major crises which have befallen this nation of late? For example, the earthquake in Central Sulawesi early this month which killed eight people, the devastating floods in Jakarta and Aceh, which claimed a total of 20 lives, and the most recent tragedy, the ferry accident in Aceh in which only 40 out of 210 passengers survived.

And people with a greater degree of political consciousness have taken an even wider view in their concern over the recent anomalies facing this nation. This view encompasses the internal bickerings of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Moslem social organization, not to mention the kidnapping of innocent people by members of the OPM separatist gang in the jungles of Irian Jaya.

It is, therefore, not surprising to hear Moslem scholars saying that the recent tragedies and anomalies should serve as warnings. Nor is it surprising to find the public taking a similar view that the situation warrants a second look at the way things are being done in this nation.

Clearly, the shortage of chilies and the sociological and psychological responses it has drawn from the public requires swift attention. But, although a solution must be found as soon as possible, a careful evaluation of the causes of the chili crisis should be done before any decision is made to import this commodity from abroad.