Fajarasia.co – It turned out that the change of the Minister of Trade from Muhammad Lutfi to Zulkifli Hasan did not produce any results in lowering the price of basic food prices.
It has been noted that since the inauguration of Trade Minister Zulhas, the price of Javanese cayenne pepper (devil) in Batam, Riau Islands, has increased from Rp. 95 thousand per kilogram to Rp. 120 thousand or 35 percent in the past week.
“For Javanese chili (devil) it was already Rp. 120,000 before it was Rp. 95 thousand,” said a Mega Legenda market trader, Panjaitan, Thursday (23/6/2022).
Curly red chili is Rp. 100,000 per kilogram, previously Rp. 85,000 per kilogram and green chili is Rp. 85 thousand per kilogram, previously Rp. 65,000 per kilogram.
Panjaitan explained previously that the price of red chili was Rp. 85 thousand per kilogram, but currently it is at Rp. 100 thousand per kilogram.
Meanwhile, the supply of local green chilies in Batam for Rp. 45 thousand has run out, so the traders switch to selling green chilies from Medan at a price of Rp. 75 thousand rupiah per kilogram.
Meanwhile, a restaurant employee, Jess, said that the impact of the increase in chili prices made sales turnover decrease by up to 25 percent.
“It affects our sales, we outsmart it by reducing the portion of chili, reducing it not too much, so that it can be stable with our turnover. But many customers also ask for more chili when they eat here. Yes, the impact on daily turnover is reduced by 25 percent, because the price of chili “It has gone up very high, from the price of Rp. 30,000 to Rp. 80,000 for green chilies, red chilies, up to Rp. 100,000,” said Jess.
In a day, Jess said the need for chili for her restaurant is 15 kilograms.
He hopes that in the near future the Batam City Government can immediately stabilize the price of chili in the market and fulfill the supply for the needs of traders and housewives.
“It is hoped that the city government can immediately stabilize the price of chili and supply chilies for traders and households, especially since the price of chili has gone up in the past two months,” he said.****
