Call Food Prices In Makassar Stable, Minister Of Trade Zulhas: Some Are Even Cheaper Than Java Island

MAKASSAR - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said that the stability of food prices in Makassar City is still slightly cheaper than the price of a number of foodstuffs in Java and its surroundings.

"Here there is premium rice at a price of Rp. 12 thousand per kilogram. So it's all cheap here compared to Java. For me, it's a surprise," said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan during a visit at the Pa'baeng-baeng Traditional Market in Makassar, quoted by Antara, Sunday, November 6.

He said, from the monitoring, the price of a number of basic commodities such as the price of Bulog rice was Rp. 9,000 per kilogram, while in Java it was priced at Rp. 9,450 per kilogram. Likewise, the price of premium rice starts at Rp. 10,000-Rp. 12,000 per kilogram.

In addition to rice prices, the price of curly chili in the Pa'baeng-baeng market, he said, is quite cheap at a price of IDR 15,000 per kilogram. This price is certainly very different from that in Java and its surroundings.

"Making me more surprised is the price of curly chilies of only Rp. 15 thousand. Poor farmers, can lose him. The cheapest chili should be Rp. 30 thousand. This price of Rp. 15 thousand is too cheap," explained Zulkifli.

In addition to several food commodities found to be cheap and affordable, he was also surprised by the price of cut chicken at a minimum price of IDR 30 thousand per kilogram. In fact, the price of cut chicken in Java reaches IDR 35 thousand.

According to him, the cheap prices applied in Makassar could be detrimental to farmers. However, his party praised the local government for being able to maintain price stability in the market and not make people complain about the prices of basic commodities.

"I also surprised the price of the chicken. But yes, I'm not happy because it's too cheap. The chicken is Rp. 30 thousand, this chicken farmer may lose money. It should have been Rp. 35 thousand for chicken. So here, the average price is below the national level," he said.

The general chairman of PAN added that although the prices of basic commodities in Makassar City are cheaper than other regions, of course it is not without reason, because South Sulawesi is one of the national food barn areas.

"So it's not surprising, because here it's a food barn. It's very good price, but it's too cheap," added the man who is familiarly called Zul.