ACEH - Tofu craftsmen in Aceh have complained about the high price of soybeans as a raw material for traditional foods during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Secretary of the Aceh Tofu Tempe Association, Mulizar, said the price of soybeans now reached Rp. 11,500 per kilogram, previously in the range of Rp. 10 thousand.
"This increase in soybean prices has been going on for the last seven months. The price of soybeans has never fallen again. Soybeans used by tofu craftsmen are generally imported goods," said Mulizar in Banda Aceh, quoted from Antara, Monday, February 14.
In addition to rising soybean prices, it is also difficult for craftsmen to get these raw materials. The supply of imported donkeys to craftsmen often falters.
With soybean prices soaring and difficulty in getting supplies of raw materials, the tofu craftsmen were forced to reduce production. Usually production reaches 600 kilograms, now only 300 kilograms per day.
"We were forced to deal with the increase in soybean prices by adjusting the tofu products produced, including increasing the price of tofu, which used to be Rp. 100,000, now to Rp. 120,000 per board," said Mulizar.
Due to the increase in the price of tofu, said Mulizar, people's purchasing power has decreased. Especially now that there is an increase in the price of cooking oil, it also has an impact on the decline in tofu buyers.
"Demand for tofu continues to decline. We also don't know how to solve it anymore. However, we continue to try to survive in conditions like this. Moreover, the tofu business employs a lot of workers," said Mulizar.
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