Staple Food Prices Go Up as High Demand

Approaching Ramadan, staple food price has increased, but our buyer remains a lot due to high demand

The prices of a number of staple foods have risen significantly in West Jakarta. Its hike price happens because demand for goods is not comparable with the existing supply of goods.

As experienced by Yusnia, (50), a peddler of staple food at Tomang Barat Market, West Jakarta, said hike price has been going on since Monday (6/30). She assessed, it happens because difficult of goods and transportation thus it does not comparable with goods demand considering staple food needs are high in Ramadan.

Ramadan, Need for Staple Food to Increase 20 Percent

She mentions non-branded cooking oil price has risen from Rp 12,000/kg to Rp 13,000/kg, sugar RP 10,000/kg to Rp 11,500/kg, curly chili Rp 10,000/kg to Rp 12,000/kg, large red chili Rp 15,000/kg to Rp 18,000/kg, cayenne pepper Rp 14,000/kg to Rp 16,000/kg, red onion Rp 22,000/kg to Rp 23,000/kg, and garlic Rp 15,000/kg to Rp 20,000/kg.

"Approaching Ramadan, staple food price has risen, but our buyer remains a lot due to high demand," she expressed, Wednesday (7/2).

Tatang, (45), a meat peddler at PD Pasar Jaya Slipi stated beef price also risen from Rp 95,000/kg to Rp 100,000/kg, likewise with chicken meat Rp 65,000/kg to Rp 75,000/kg.

"High demand over staple food is common in Ramadan, especially ahead of Eid ul Fitr. With the rising prices, it will automatically reduce the buyer, but not significant," he said.

West Jakarta Mayor, Anas Efendi expressed his party has predicted hike price on staple food. To lighten citizen's burden, West Jakarta Cooperative Small Micro Medium Enterprises and Trade (KUMKMP) will hold folk market in some areas in the near future.

"We'll hold folk market in West Jakarta. Yet, we are still looking for a place and time. But a week before Ramadan we had done the activity at Kebon Jeruk Sub-District," he explained.