These Five Food Commodities Experience Price Increases And Are Prone To Scarcity During Ramadan

Garlic/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Market Traders Association (Ikappi) revealed five food commodities that are still experiencing price increases and are predicted to be prone to scarcity during the current month of Ramadan.

Deputy Secretary-General of Food Strengthening and Distribution, Ikappi Abdul Sutri Atmojati, said that the food commodity started with cooking oil. Abdul said, currently the average price of bulk cooking oil is IDR 20.000 per liter.

This price is still above the highest retail price (HET) set by the government of IDR 14 thousand. Abdul said the cause was an alleged price game because of the price disparity with packaged cooking oil.

"The high price disparity with packaged cooking oil has forced many parties to play with increasing the price of bulk cooking oil. Currently, Ikappi data states that bulk cooking oil is still at an average price of IDR 20.000," said Abdul in his statement, Wednesday, April 20.

Second, onions. Abdul said that currently there is not much stock of shallots in the market. The price ranges from IDR 39 thousand to IDR 40 thousand per kilogram.

Third, garlic. Although the government has imported garlic, some of these commodities are still difficult to find in the market and the price is still relatively high.

"The highest retail price is below Rp. 30 thousand, but the market price has reached IDR 34.500," he said.

Fourth, sugar. Abdul said that granulated sugar is still in the price range of IDR 14.500 per kilogram and there are still many goods that have not been found in the market. This is because the milling season will occur in May. So, currently can not be found in the market.

Fifth, beef. Normally, beef is sold for around IDR 130 thousand. However, the current price has reached IDR 143.500 to IDR 150 thousand per kilogram.

"The price of beef is quite high at the beginning of Ramadan until the middle of Ramadan. The reason for the high price of beef is the demand is quite high and the commodity is not so much," he explained.

From this condition, Abdul assessed that the government was still not sufficiently able to control food during the Ramadan period.

"We ask the government to immediately resolve this food problem before the holiday and after Eid al-Fitr because it is quite dangerous for our food," he added.