Announcement For Tempe Tofu Lovers, Craftsmen Apologize For Being Forced To Increase Prices By 20 Percent

Illustration. (Photo: Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The increase in the price of imported soybeans as the main raw material for making tofu and tempeh has triggered a strike on the production and trade of tofu and tempeh craftsmen in the island of Java. If the price of soybeans does not decrease, the craftsmen will increase the selling price of tofu and tempeh by 10 to 20 percent.

Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tofu and Tempe Producers Cooperatives (Gakoptindo) Aip Syarifuddin apologized to the people who love tofu and tempeh if prices in the market experienced an increase. He emphasized that the price had to increase because the price of raw materials had increased.

Aip said that currently the average price of soybeans reaches Rp. 11 to Rp. 11,500 per kilogram (Kg) on the island of Java. Meanwhile, the price reaches IDR 12,000 per kg in Aceh, Kalimantan or Sulawesi.

"We, from tofu and tempeh craftsmen, apologize to the people who love tofu and tempeh, because we are forced, compelled and compelled to do this. So we apologize," he said when contacted by VOI, Friday, February 18.

Aip gave an example that previously the price of tempeh for a piece of palm or 500 grams was around Rp. 5 thousand to Rp. 6 thousand in the market. Then there will be an increase of 10 or 20 percent. This means that from Rp. 5 thousand, it rose to Rp. 6 thousand.

Initially, Aip said that the production and trade strike which will be held on February 21, 22 and 23 is the end of the anxiety experienced by tofu and tempeh craftsmen since December 2021. The anxiety stems from the price of soybeans which is increasing every day.

According to Aip, before deciding to carry out a production strike, his party had implemented various proposals from Gakoptindo members. Among them were complaining to the government, replacing raw materials with local soybeans, which eventually led to a strike.

"At the end of December 2021, soybean prices began to rise and increase every day. So we are restless. So some regions, districts, groups (crafters) how is this, how is it, some have suggested we tell the government, some say look for local soybeans, but nothing. Or we suggest the government to help raise the price (tofu and tempeh), or ask for subsidies, at least the last strike," he said.

"That has been since December 2021. I conveyed the members' voices to the government, but it turns out that from the government in December, January, now it is mid-February, there is no concrete action on the ground," he continued.

Aip considers that the government pays little attention to tofu and tempeh craftsmen. This is because the problem of rising prices for raw materials, namely soybeans, continues to occur every year.

"So if you're honest and it's even more true that this increase in soybeans is repeated every year. Last December, before, before it was like this every year. Attention (the government) is still lacking," he said.

"There has been a response. But the solution is not yet clear," he continued.