From Tofu-Tempe Crafters To Jokowi: Control Soybean Prices Or We're Bankrupt

President Joko Widodo (Source: BPMI Setpres)

JAKARTA - Tofu craftsmen in Lebak Regency, Banten, have asked President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to help subsidize soybean prices in the market. They worry that the increase in soybean prices will make them bankrupt.

"Since the past week we have complained, because the price of soybeans has jumped from Rp370 thousand to Rp465 thousand per 50 kg," said the head of the Rangkasbitung Tofu Crafters Association, Lebak Regency, Mad Soleh in Lebak, Saturday, January 2.

Mad Soleh said that if the unit price of tofu was increased by Rp10 thousand per pack of ten, consumers could potentially run away.

Therefore, the tofu crafter hopes that Jokowi will immediately step in by ordering the Ministry of Trade to provide soybean subsidies. Because, in the past, the government had done the price of soybeans by providing subsidies to tofu and tempe craftsmen.

"We ask that soybeans can be subsidized again so that it can help the people's economy and absorb jobs," he explained.

According to him, currently, tempe tofu craftsmen in Lebak Regency are holding a sales strike from January 1 to January 3, 2020. The strike is expected by the government to intervene by providing soybean subsidies.

Currently, soybean prices continue to move up in the market due to competition for American and Chinese soybean imports. If the price of imported soybeans is not controlled, it will have an impact on tofu craftsmen as many as 35 business units will stop production.

"We hope soybean prices will stabilize again or be assisted by subsidies," he explained.

Suhali, a tempe craftsman from Rangkasbitung, Lebak Regency, complained about the soaring price of soybeans in the market from Rp7,500 to Rp9,500 per kilogran. The increase in soybean prices resulted in reduced production and had an impact on income.

So far, he said, the income from selling tempe is only enough to meet the family's food needs. "We ask that the price of soybeans return to normal, so that craftsmen continue to exist producing tempe as a source of livelihood," he said.

He mentioned that the traditional tempe craftsmen in Rangkasbitung did not have the courage to increase the unit price of tempe because they were afraid of being left behind by customers. Craftsmen only get around it by reducing the size at the normal price, which is IDR 1,000 per tempe.

"We are completely confused if the tempe unit price is increased, the subscribers will still object to it," he said.

Meanwhile, Adhari, a tempe craftsman from Rangkasbitung admitted that he got soybeans from retailers in Rangkasbitung Market. This is because Lebak Regency does not have business institutions, such as cooperatives or associations that can protect soybean prices.

Tempeh and tofu craftsmen get soybeans directly from retailers at relatively high prices. "We hope that the government can protect the tempe craftsmen by providing subsidies with cheap and affordable prices," he said.