Tofu Tempe Is Expensive, Soybean Importers And Distributors Beware Because Bareskrim Has Intervened

JAKARTA - Bareskrim Polri is investigating allegations of soybean stockpiling in a number of areas. This is after there is an increase in the price of national soybeans which resulted in scarcity of raw materials for making tofu and tempe in the community.

Kabareskrim Polri, Komjen Listyo Sigit, together with the Head of the National Police's Food Task Force, Brigadier General Helmy Santika, stated that the investigation was carried out by the National Police's Food Task Force team in a number of regions in Indonesia and had carried out inspections at a number of warehouses for soybean importers and distributors in Cikupa, Cengkareng and Bekasi areas.

"The Task Force has also instructed the regional task force in each Polda to check prices, soybean availability and processing centers, especially MSMEs that produce tempeh and tofu," said Komjen Listyo Sigit in a statement received in Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, January 5.

It is known that there was an increase in soybean prices in early 2021 which caused a number of tofu and tempe craftsmen to go on strike for three days. The supply of tofu and tempeh disappeared from the market during January 1 to 3.

The increase in the price of soybeans in the range of Rp. 9,000 from the original Rp. 7,000 per kilogram is considered a burden to entrepreneurs.

The government, through the Ministry of Trade, claims to have deployed a team to find the source of the problem of the production strike by tofu and tempe producers. The government guarantees that the supply of soybeans will be stable soon.

Brigadier General Helmy Santika said the National Police had data and analysis of soybean availability and demand nationally.

"We have coordinated with the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and a number of other parties to investigate the alleged hoarding and the soaring game of soybean prices since the last few days," said Helmy.

Helmy also mentioned that global developments during the COVID-19 pandemic also affected soybean prices on world markets.

"Based on FAO data, in December 2020 there was an increase in the price of soybeans in the global market by 6 percent from the initial price of 435 US dollars to 461 US dollars per ton," said Helmy.