Vegetable Prices Suddenly Rise In Bengkulu, Allegedly Due To Coffee

The price of vegetables rising in Bengkulu (ANTARA/Anggi Mayasari)

BENGKULU - The price of several types of vegetables in a number of markets in Bengkulu City has increased significantly. This is suspected to have occurred due to the increase in coffee prices in the region. Vegetable commodities that experienced an increase, namely cabbage and wartel which were previously Rp. 8 thousand to Rp. 15 thousand per kilogram, mustard and tomatoes Rp. 7 thousand to Rp. 12 thousand per kilogram and others. "For vegetables, it is still increasing. Price increases due to expensive coffee and farmers rely more on growing coffee than vegetables," said one vegetable trader at the Bengkulu City Traditional Market (PTM) Syahril Ramadan, Sunday quoted from ANTARA, Sunday, June 23. He said, due to the large number of farmers who prefer to grow coffee rather than vegetables, the availability of vegetables has decreased. In addition to vegetable commodities, green cayenne pepper also increased from Rp. 60 thousand to Rp. 70 thousand per kilogram.

However, for the current price of red chilies, which previously decreased by Rp. 85 thousand to Rp. 75,000 per kilogram, onion Rp. 42 thousand to Rp. 48 thousand per kilogram and garlic Rp. 44 thousand, increased to Rp. 48 thousand per kg. As for the price of beef Rp. 140 thousand per kilogram and chicken meat Rp. 38 thousand per kilogram and the two are still normal today. Meanwhile, the Department of Industry and Trade (Disperindag) Bengkulu City stated that the price of food commodities in a number of markets in the region is still stable and only a few commodities have increased. The Head of Trade Development Division of the Bengkulu City Disperdag Erika Arisanti said that if there is a price difference in three markets such as the Panorama market, the modern traditional market (PTM) and the Janger market are due to different transport prices. "For the prices of basic commodities there has not been a significant decline. That is, the last figure still rose slightly. However, it is still on a reasonable scale," said Erika.