Vegetable Prices Drop Significantly at Klaten's Pasar Gedhe During Free Meal Programme Holiday

Prices of various vegetable commodities at Pasar Gedhe in Klaten, Central Java, have experienced a significant decline. The price drop has been influenced by the temporary suspension of the free nutritious meal programme (MBG) during the school holiday period. The temporary halt of the MBG during the current school holidays has not only caused a significant drop in vegetable commodity prices but also in the prices of other staples, such as eggs, broiler chicken meat, and beef. Monitoring at Pasar Gedhe Klaten on Monday (29/6) showed that the price of red cayenne chilli at market traders was now only Rp42,000 per kilogramme (kg), a drop of up to Rp23,000 per kg from the price before the school holidays. Meanwhile, the price of curly red chilli, which was originally Rp56,000, fell to Rp33,000 per kg. Likewise, large red chilli, which was Rp65,000 per kg before the school holidays, is now priced at only Rp33,000 per kg at traders. Sharp declines also occurred for cauliflower, carrots, and long beans. The price of cauliflower at the market is now Rp11,000, a drop of Rp13,000 per kg; carrots, which were originally Rp14,000, fell to Rp6,000 per kg; and long beans dropped by Rp5,000 to Rp4,000 per kg. For chicken eggs at Pasar Gedhe Klaten, the price is now Rp22,000 per kg, a drop of Rp4,000, and chicken meat also fell by Rp4,000 to Rp28,000 per kg. Meanwhile, the price of beef at traders is Rp135,000, a drop of Rp5,000 per kg. One vegetable trader, Ponijem, confirmed that the significant drop in vegetable commodity prices was influenced by the school holidays and the temporary suspension of the free nutritious meal programme (MBG). “The school holidays and the MBG holiday are the cause of the drastic drop in vegetable prices. Just look, the price of shallots has also fallen by Rp5,000 to Rp42,000 per kg, and garlic, which was originally Rp38,000 per kg, is now only Rp34,000 per kg,” she said.