Why the Price of Red Bird's Eye Chili Has Soared to IDR 120,000

The price of red bird’s eye chili in several traditional markets in the Solo area, Central Java, is still high. In Karanganyar Regency, the price of red bird’s eye chili has reached IDR 100,000 per kilogram, even touching IDR 120,000 per kilogram in the past week.

One of the traders at the Jongke Market, Karanganyar, Rini Astuti, said that the price of red bird’s eye chili had soared to IDR 120,000 per kilogram a few days ago. As of Monday, February 23, 2026, it has decreased to IDR 100,000 per kilogram.

“A few days ago, it had increased to IDR 120,000 (per kilogram). Now it has dropped to IDR 100,000 per kilogram,” said Rini when met at her stall on Monday, February 23, 2026.

Rini suspects that the soaring price of red bird’s eye chili is due to limited supply due to bad weather in recent times. “The goods are scarce, the supply is limited,” she said.

Meanwhile, in the city of Solo, the price of red bird’s eye chili also increased to IDR 90,000 per kilogram. However, as of today, it is at IDR 78,000 to IDR 80,000 per kilogram.

Regarding the price increase, the Karanganyar Regency Government held a market operation to curb inflation and help the community during Ramadan. The Head of the Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Service of Karanganyar Regency, Feriyana Dwi Kurniawati, said that the price increase occurred due to limited supply.

Currently, Karanganyar Regency has not entered the red bird’s eye chili harvest season, so the supply is brought in from other areas such as Magelang, Cepogo or Boyolali, to Ngawi, East Java.

“In the market earlier, some were selling for IDR 110,000 per kilogram, even reaching IDR 120,000. Therefore, we facilitated the market operation with support from the Central Java Provincial Government,” said Feriyana during the market operation in Karanganyar.

In the market operation, red bird’s eye chili was sold for IDR 65,000 per kilogram. Purchases were limited to a maximum of two kilograms per identity card (KTP) and were intended for non-civil servant (ASN) residents. As much as 200 kilograms of red bird’s eye chili provided in the market operation was sold out in less than an hour.

In addition to chili, the government also provides organic rice at IDR 15,000 per kilogram, which is cheaper than the price in modern markets, which has reached IDR 20,000 per kilogram. In addition, analog rice, which is made from cassava or corn, is also offered at IDR 14,000 per 0.5 kilogram. “So we provide analog rice for food diversification to reduce dependence on rice,” said Feriyana.

Dita, one of the residents who bought red bird’s eye chili at the market operation, said she was happy to be able to get red bird’s eye chili at a price below the current market price, which is IDR 100,000 per kilogram. “You can only buy a maximum of 2 kilograms, but thank God because the price is cheaper than what is sold in the market,” said Dita.

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