Bapanas Boss Claims National Chili Prices Are Starting to Mark

JAKARTA - The Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) who is also the Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman claims that the price of chili nationwide has begun to decline.

Amran said that the increase in the market price of chili in recent times was influenced by the rainy season which made the intensity of the chili farmer's harvest was not the same as the normal condition. He is also optimistic that the price of chili commodities will improve.

"Chili, yesterday I monitored it was quite good, even down. But we think this is because there is a disaster, rain, if the chili goes up a little it is still normal," said Amran in an official statement, Tuesday, December 23.

Amran said that the declining trend in chili prices can be seen through the Food Price Panel managed by Bapanas. As of December 21, all types of chili that are in the Food Price Panel monitor have experienced a price decrease compared to the previous week in the range of 6 to 7 percent.

For curly red chilies, the average national price on December 21 was IDR 55,734 per kilogram (kg). Down 7.82 percent compared to the price condition a week earlier which was still at IDR 60,461 per kg.

Meanwhile, for red chili peppers as of December 21, the average price was IDR 66,713 per kg. Down 6.03 percent compared to the previous week which was still hovering at IDR 70,996 per kg.

For large red chilies, the average national price as of December 21 was IDR 49,847 per kg. It has decreased significantly by 7.61 percent compared to the previous week, which was still at IDR 52,554 per kg.

Amran said that the decline in the price of this trial was one of the impacts of the government's efforts to maintain distribution from chili production centers, including areas affected by natural disasters.

As is known, one of the concrete steps taken by the government is to transport the results of Aceh farmers' chili harvest to Jakarta by utilizing air fleets that carry assistance logistics.

"Our farmers, including chili, must not lose. We must help them. The results of their hard work must be well distributed to consumer areas that need supplies, such as Jakarta. We have done this," said Amran.

Amran said the readiness of domestic chili production was in line with the Food Balance Projection that Bapanas prepared by December 2025.

For chili peppers, monthly production is estimated to have increased by 22.3 percent in December compared to November.

"The large chili in December can reach a production of 127,800 tons, while November is 104,500 tons," he said.

Meanwhile, continued Amran, for the production of sweet peas in December 2025 is estimated to reach 108,600 tons. Meanwhile, the monthly consumption needs of sweet peas nationwide for large sweet peas and red sweet peas are in the range of 76,000 to 78,000 tons.

"That way, monthly production is still sufficient to meet consumption needs," he said.

In addition, the stock of large chili and sweet peas nationwide until the end of 2025 is also still at a sufficient level.

For chili, the stock is estimated to end the year at 63,400 tons.

Meanwhile, the stock of cayenne pepper at the end of the year is in the range of 49,300 tons.