Minister Of Agriculture Syahrul Holds Market Operations, Soybean Prices Set At IDR 8,500 Per Kilogram For The Next 100 Days

Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo while visiting tempe-tofu craftsmen in Kalideres, West Jakarta. (Mery Handayani / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) is collaborating with the Indonesian Soybean Association (Akindo) and the Association of Indonesian Tofu Tempe Producers Cooperatives (Gakoptindo) to operate the soybean market. This operation aims to stabilize the supply and price of soybeans in the country.

Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo said, the price of soybeans is set at IDR 8,500 per kilogram especially for tofu tempe producers. It is hoped that this price can last the next 100 days.

For information, the price of imported soybeans before the jump was in the range of Rp. 6,000 to Rp. 7,000 per kg, after which the price of soybean was increased to Rp. 9,100 to Rp. 9,500 per kg.

"The combination of tofu and tempe entrepreneurs can directly link to get soybeans at affordable prices. This is our SOS or emergency agenda to restore soybeans," he said, when met at the PIK KOPTI Complex, Semanan, Kalideres, West Jakarta, Thursday, December 7.

As for this market operation, soybeans do not come from the Ministry of Agriculture's warehouse, but belong to importers. On Tuesday, January 5, 2020, a meeting was held between the Indonesian Soybean Importers Association (Akindo) and the Tempe Tofu Cooperative Association (Gakoptindo) to discuss the issue of rising soybean prices.

As a result, the importers agreed to sell soybeans to the craftsmen at a price of IDR8,500 per kg. There are a number of importers who will later be involved in market operations. But specifically today, the importer involved is PT FKS Multi Agro Tbk.

Syahrul said the price of Rp8,500 has provided a margin for importers and will ease the burden on tempe and tofu producers. He hopes, with the lower price, the burden on tofu tempe craftsmen will be lighter in the production process.

In addition, Syahrul claimed, the craftsmen had never complained about the supply of soybeans. He said the craftsmen only complained about the increasing price of soybeans. So that forcing tofu tempeh products must also increase prices at the consumer level.

"The price condition is already Rp8,500. There is enough margin for us to intervene. At least the supply of soybeans is not disrupted and thanks to our importers for what they have, they provide a fast response," he said.

As is known, the soaring price of imported soybeans made tofu and tempe producers decide to stop selling for 3 days, starting from January 1 yesterday to January 3. As a result, the supply of tempeh and tofu is very scarce in the field.

This step is inevitably the last option for the craftsmen because until now the price of soybeans continues to soar. The price of soybeans can continue to rise every day. This condition made it difficult for the craftsmen, because the increase was no longer reasonable.