Tempe Tofu Disappears In The Market, Warteg Entrepreneurs Lose 20 Percent Of Turnover Per Day

Illustration. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Tofu and tempeh craftsmen have been on strike for three days, starting two days ago. As a result, the supply of raw tofu and tempeh has disappeared from the market. Tegal stall entrepreneurs (warteg) were also affected, namely a decrease in turnover by 20 percent per day.

As is known, tofu and tempeh craftsmen on the island of Java carried out a production and trade strike which was held on February 21, 22 and 23. The action is a form of protest because the price of soybeans continues to rise.

The Chief Coordinator of Warteg Nusantara (Kowantara), Mukroni explained that warteg entrepreneurs lost 20 percent of their turnover. This is because warteg no longer sells tofu and tempeh menus.

"The decrease in turnover by 20 percent per day. Due to the impact (from the craftsmen on a production strike), the tofu and tempeh menus are not sold," he said when contacted by VOI, quoted on Wednesday, February 23.

Mukroni explained that the general customers of warteg are people with lower middle class economy. During this COVID-19 pandemic, people are tightening their belts by replacing the meat menu with tofu and tempeh.

"Because tofu and tempeh are indispensable consumer goods, where people's purchasing power conditions (during the pandemic) tighten their belts, those who cannot afford meat and chicken side dishes, they replace them with tofu and tempeh," he said.

Furthermore, Mukroni explained, usually every warteg sells 10 menus made from tofu and tempeh. For example, tempeh orek, tempeh pare to tofu contents.

"The tofu tempeh is missing, as well as the missing menu at warteg orek tempe; bitter melon; tempe pokcay; flour fried tempeh; vegetable tofu tempeh; bacem tofu tempeh; intestine tofu; Bandung tofu, chicory tofu; and stuffed tofu," he said.

Tofu and tempeh craftsmen go on strike for three days

The rising price of imported soybeans as the main raw material for making tofu and tempeh has triggered a strike on the production and trade of tofu and tempeh craftsmen in Java. If the price of soybeans does not decrease, the craftsmen will increase the selling price of tofu and tempeh by 10 to 20 percent in the market.

Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tofu and Tempe Producers Cooperatives (Gakoptindo) Aip Syaifuddin said that the production and trade strike which will be held on February 21, 22 and 23 is the end of the anxiety experienced by tofu and tempeh craftsmen since December 2021. The unrest stems from the price of soybeans. which is increasing every day.

According to Aip, before deciding to carry out a production strike, his party had implemented various proposals from Gakoptindo members. Among them are complaining to the government, replacing raw materials with local soybeans which eventually led to a strike.

"At the end of December 2021, the price of soybeans began to rise and rise every day. So we are restless. So some regions, districts, groups (crafters) how is this, what is this, some have suggested we tell the government, some say look for local soybeans, but nothing. Or we suggest the government help raise the price (tofu and tempeh), or ask for subsidies, at least the last one is a strike," he said when contacted by VOI, Friday, February 18.

"That has been since December 2021. I conveyed the members' voices to the government, but it turns out that from the government in December, January, now it is mid-February, there is no concrete action on the ground," he continued.

According to Aip, if the strike does not reduce the price of soybeans, the artisans will increase the selling price of tofu and tempeh by 10 to 20 percent in the market.

Therefore, Aip apologized to the people who love tofu and tempeh if the price in the market has increased. He emphasized that the price had to increase because the price of raw materials had increased.

Aip said that currently the average price of soybeans reaches Rp. 11 to Rp. 11,500 per kilogram (Kg) on the island of Java. Meanwhile, the price reaches IDR 12,000 per kg in Aceh, Kalimantan or Sulawesi.

"We, from tofu and tempeh craftsmen, apologize to the people who love tofu tempeh because this is forced, forced and forced by us. So we apologize," he said.

For example, said Aip, tofu and tempeh prices increased by 10 to 20 percent. Previously, the price of tempeh for a piece of palm or 500 grams was around Rp. 5 thousand to Rp. 6 thousand in the market. Then there will be an increase of 10 or 20 percent. This means that from Rp. 5 thousand, it rose to Rp. 6 thousand.

On the other hand, Aip believes that the government pays little attention to tofu and tempeh craftsmen. This is because the problem of rising prices for raw materials, namely soybeans, continues to occur every year.

"So if you're honest and it's even more true that this increase in soybeans is repeated every year. Last December, before, before it was like this every year. Attention (the government) is still lacking," he said.

"There has been a response. But the solution is not yet clear," he continued.