by Nurul Fitri Ramadhani
JAKARTA, Jun 16 (NNN-XINHUA) – Indonesians are currently experiencing the impact of rising prices for basic foods, such as rice, meat, chicken, and cooking ingredients, ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday, which is set to occur tomorrow (Monday).
As of yesterday, Indonesia’s National Food Agency (Bapanas) reported that, the average national price of rice increased by 0.4 percent to 15,500 rupiahs (approximately 0.9 U.S. dollars) per kilogram. Chilies, a staple ingredient in nearly all Indonesian dishes, saw a price increase ranging from 5.6 percent to 14.3 percent.
In Bandung, West Java province, the country’s most populous province, the price of chilies increased up to 40,000 rupiahs (2.43 dollars) per kilogram. On normal days, the price was usually 36,000 rupiahs (2.18 dollars) per kilogram. Garlic price, meanwhile, went up from 43,000 rupiahs (2.61 dollars) to 48,000 rupiahs (2.91 dollars) per kilogram.
“The increases in chilies and garlic prices were caused by the low supply, amid increasing demand ahead of the sacrifice day,” Gin Ginanjar, head of Bandung’s Food Security and Livestock Service Office, told local media, yesterday.
Other regions have seen even greater price hikes. For instance, in Aceh province on Sumatra island, the cost of chilies has escalated to 75,000 rupiahs (4.55 dollars) per kilogram, up from the usual 50,000 rupiahs (3.03 dollars). Meanwhile, in Gorontalo province on Sulawesi island, chili prices have surged to 80,000 rupiahs (4.85 dollars) per kilogram.
“This is because most people need chilies to cook the meat of the sacrificed livestock that they will get on Eid al-Adha day. People have started hunting for the spices before Eid al-Adha,” said Azam, a vegetable seller at the Lambaro traditional market in Aceh.
He said that, all prices of spices had become unpredictable and no one knew when the prices would go back down to normal.
Eid al-Adha is celebrated as one of the most sacred days by Muslims worldwide, including in Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population. The holiday is characterised by the sacrifice of animals like cows, goats, and sheep, and the performance of special communal prayers. This is followed by distributing the meat from the sacrificed animals to those in need.
By tradition, on Eid al-Adha, families gather and serve authentic Eid food, including opor ayam (made of chicken) and semur daging (made of beef).
Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, said that, although food prices went up ahead of Adha day, the government had ensured that the stocks were safe.
“We are now focusing on the national food situation, especially to anticipate the momentum of Eid al-Adha, but will guarantee that the stocks are safe,” he said.– NNN-XINHUA