Good News From Rangkasbitung, Turnover Of Traditional Food Merchants Growing Up

A traditional food trader in Rangkasbitung, Lebak Regency, Banten Province, displays a banana sale because consumer demand is increasing. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The turnover of traditional food traders in Rangkasbitung, Lebak Regency, Banten Province since the last two weeks has been creeping up due to increased consumer demand.

"We can now generate a turnover of Rp4 million from the previous Rp1 million per day," said Awa (45), a Najwa shop owner who sells various traditional foods on Sunan Bonang Street Rangkasbitung, Lebak Regency, as reported by Antara, Sunday, October 31.

The increase in sales turnover in connection with the pandemic case in Lebak Regency decreased dramatically.

Local governments again allow economic activities, but still comply with health protocols (prokes). Most of the requests for traditional food from local residents also come from outside the area to be used as souvenirs after visiting Bedouin cultural tourism.

The increasing demand for traditional food is certainly enough to help the income of MSME actors. This is because they are a party that sells traditional food, which is supplied by SMEs.

The traditional food products, such as banana chips, emping crackers, kaceprek, palm sugar, palm sugar, ginger labeur and ranginang.

Likewise, the sale of bananas, ranginang, cassava chips, breadfruit chips, bitter melon, and others.

Prices for traditional food products start at Rp10,000 to Rp300,000 per kg.

"We expect revenue turnover to return to normal after more than a year of sluggish sales," he added.

Likewise, another trader, Nita (30) admitted that now the income turnover has started to creep up and can generate Rp5 million from the previous Rp1.5 million per day.

They are consumers who buy traditional food to be consumed with family members.

The advantage of traditional food products is that they are organic without using preservatives. "We hope that the pandemic will end so that it can increase the economic growth of the citizens," he said.

Lukman, a consumer said that he is now buying up palm sugar, emping crackers, and selling bananas for up to Rp800 thousand.

The traditional food is for souvenirs to Majalengka. "We often buy souvenirs here when we visit children in Lebak," he said.

Meanwhile, Ilah, an MSME actor in Rangkasbitung said that his party is now starting to climb up market demand.

This week we were able to reap a net profit of Rp5 million from the previous Rp2 million per two weeks," said Ilah, who produces emping crackers.