Customer Protests, Entrepreneurs In Belitung Still Choose To Reduce The Size Of Tofu

Tofu making in Belitung (ANTARA)

BELITUNG - Tofu entrepreneurs in Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, were forced to reduce the size of tofu in order to anticipate losses due to rising soybean prices.

"I was forced to reduce the size of the tofu sold because the price of soybeans rose to Rp11,400 per kilogram, whereas the previous soybean price was only Rp7,500 per kilogram," said tofu entrepreneur Aep Saefulloh in Tanjung Pandan, Antara, Tuesday, February 22.

The decision to reduce the size of the tofu was indeed complained by local traders and customers. "Indeed, there were protests from retail traders, but we have to do that considering the increased production costs due to the increase in soybean prices," he said.

Although it has reduced the size of tofu, at this time it has not decided to temporarily stop production activities even though soybean prices continue to rise.

"As for the production strike, we can't decide right now, because we feel sorry for our five workers if we have to temporarily stop production," he said.

In addition, to anticipate losses, his party also increased the selling price of tofu from Rp. 17 thousand per bag (contents of 50 pieces of tofu) to Rp. 18 thousand.

In a day his business spends as much as 300 kilograms of soybeans to produce 5,000 pieces of tofu.

The price of soybeans now reaches Rp. 570 thousand per sack with a capacity of 50 kilograms or Rp. 11,400 per kilogram, up from the previous Rp. 375 thousand per sack or Rp. 7,500 per kilogram.

"However, if soybean prices continue to rise, we are forced to decide to temporarily stop production because of high production costs," he said.

He hoped that the government could take quick steps to stabilize soybean prices in the area. "Our hope is the same as other tofu craftsmen so that the government can quickly reduce the current soybean price," he said.