JAKARTA - Ahead of Lebaran, the remaining two days will make a number of staple food commodities (bapok) such as chilies and onions creep up.
Judging from the official website of Bank Indonesia (BI), based on the price from the National Strategic Food Price Information Center (PIHPS), the price of red cayenne pepper has increased by 10.97 percent.
For DKI Jakarta, the price of red cayenne pepper has now reached Rp120,000 per kilogram (kg) from the previous price of Rp117,500 per kg. Onion red size is increasing from the previous Rp60,100 per kg to Rp61,750 per kg.
Agricultural observer from the Indonesian Political Economy Association (AEPI), Khudori, explained that price fluctuations like this will always happen again in the years to come.
For horticultural commodities, one of the problems is seasonal harvest, while needs have not changed.
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"When the harvest is abundant, prices will drop even very low. On the other hand, when production is limited, prices can be very high."
"When it comes to Eid, like this, there are no horticultural commodities, such as chilies and vegetables. They are ready for Eid. So, it is natural that prices will rise because the supply is limited," Khudori told VOI, Saturday, March 29, 2025.
"Traders are also full of risks. For example, they stock a lot, if they don't run out they will rot and be damaged. In the end, they compensate at a high price," he said again.
Khudori added that for commodities that are mostly imported, price fluctuations depend on the smoothness of imports. For example, garlic.
"If imports run smoothly, the supply will be adequate and prices will not increase. Vice versa. A good example is garlic because 96 percent is filled with imports."
"However, import permits were issued late. That's the case, the permits that have been issued have not been imported. Prices have soared as they are today," he said.
To stabilize prices ahead of Lebaran, Khudori said there were two instruments. First, price settings. Second, food reserves.
"The problem is, both are lacking, even ineffective," he said.
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