The Price Of Cayenne Pepper Crawls Up, Reaching IDR 45,000 Per Kilogram

Illustration of cayenne pepper whose price has soared to Rp. 45,000 per kilogram. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The price of cayenne pepper at a traditional market in Cianjur, West Java, has crept up again from Rp. 30,000 to Rp. 45,000 per kilogram. The price increase is thought to be due to the lack of stock at the farmer level, the increase also occurred in red chili.

Head of UPTD Pasar Induk Pasir Hayam Cianjur, Doni Wibowo when contacted on Saturday, said that the stock of cayenne pepper and red chili was still safe for the next few months, but the lack of stock made prices crawl up two weeks after Eid.

"The stock is safe even though it is minimal, so that it has an impact on price increases. Last week the price of cayenne pepper fell by Rp. 30,000 per kilogram and red chilies also rose from Rp. 30,000 to Rp. 35,000 per kilogram," he said as quoted by Antara.

He explained that the price of beef is still high but the normal level of sales, beef is sold for Rp. 140,000 per kilogram. Meanwhile, chicken meat began to fall to near the normal price from Rp. 36,000 to Rp. 31,000 per kilogram.

"Every day we continue to monitor the price of food needs, especially before the feast of the sacrifice. The estimated price of food needs will creep up again ahead of the feast of sacrifice, but will not soar," he said.

A meat trader at the Pasar Induk Pasirhayam, Cianjur, said that up to two weeks after Eid, beef prices were still high, but did not reduce sales figures. Every day on average traders can still sell more than 200 kg of meat.

"After the holiday, the sales level is still normal, although the price of meat is still high. The stock is still safe until Eid al-Fitr. Regarding the nail and mouth disease that affects livestock, it does not affect sales," said meat trader Rahman.

He explained that the health and suitability of the meat sold in the market is guaranteed because it comes from breeders and slaughterhouses who have been checked by the relevant agencies. Plus so far, livestock for slaughter come from Cianjur, not from outside the region.