Check Johar Market Semarang, Vice President: Christmas-New Year Influence Food Price Fluctuations

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin during a dialogue with chili traders at Johar Market, Semarang City, Central Java, Thursday (28/12/2023). (ANTARA/Andi Firdaus).

SEMARANG - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said the 2023 Christmas and 2024 New Year celebrations affect fluctuations in food needs prices in a number of traditional markets.

"In the market, I saw an increase in prices, but not because of lack of supply. I asked for sufficient supply, so it really affected because Christmas and New Year," said Ma'ruf Amin on the sidelines of a working visit at Johar Market, Semarang City, Central Java, reported by ANTARA, Thursday, December 28.

The vice president said the annual cycle of religious big celebrations often triggers an increase in consumer demand which has an impact on increasing prices for basic necessities.

One of them is the chili commodity which has now dropped to a price of Rp. 60,000 per kg from a price of Rp. 90 thousand per kg before Christmas 2023.

"That means because it is harvested. I asked the governor, maybe here all the vegetable commodities, then also chilies, potatoes, rice, are sufficient. Surplus, so there are no problems in supply," he said.

Ma'ruf advised the relevant authorities to regulate the flow of food product trading by prioritizing regional needs, before being sent outside Java.

"Maybe the trading system that must be regulated may be allowed to leave, but in the regions it is sufficient, to anticipate in the future," he said.

What was also highlighted by the Vice President during a working visit to Johar Market was complaints from traders who felt empty of consumers since the market revitalization process was completed due to the 2015 fire incident.

"Indeed, there were complaints that the market was not crowded with visitors because it was new, it was a fire. I asked the governor to rearrange so that visitors enter there," he said.