Post-Flood, Vegetables Price Rocketing

Despite rain has receded a week ago, yet the price of vegetables at several traditional markets is rocketing significantly. The increase is caused by unstable supply from vegetables suppliers outside the city.

Based on beritajakarta.com observations at Jembatan Dua Market, Tambora, West Jakarta, the vegetables which price is increasing are carrot from Rp 5,000 to Rp 12,000/kilogram, spinach from Rp 1,000 to Rp 4,000/bunch, water spinach from Rp 1,500 to Rp 3,000, and cucumber from Rp 6,000 to Rp 9,000/kilogram.

For curly red chili, its price also increases from Rp 20,000 to Rp 30,000. Other commodities are cayenne pepper from Rp 15,000 to Rp 21,000/kilogram, onion from Rp 12,000 to Rp 18,000/kilogram, garlic super from Rp 18,000 to Rp 28,000/kilogram, regular garlic from Rp 15,000 to Rp 25,000/kilogram, mustard from Rp 5,000 to Rp 7,000/kilogram, cabbage from Rp 3,000 to Rp 4,000/kilogram, and purple eggplant from Rp 4,000 to Rp 6,000/kilogram.

“It’s been happening since last three days, vegetables price rise again. The highest of price hike happens to spinach, curly red chili, onion, tomato, and garlic. Whereas a week ago, its price had dropped,” told Anen, a vegetables peddler in Jembatan Dua Market, Thursday (1/31).

Vegetables’ price increase is also spotted at Grogol Market, where the price of almost all vegetables increases significantly. According to Ampung (50), a vegetables peddler there, the price hike is caused by unstable vegetables supply. “Usually in three days once, I could shop tomatoes up to 50 kilograms. But now, I could only get 25-30 kilograms of tomatoes, likewise with peppers and onions. That’s why the price is higher than usual,” he told.

Besides vegetables, price hike also hit chicken meat. The price for one small chicken has increased to Rp 30,000 from normal price Rp 25,000/kilogram. While for domestic chicken egg, it is sold at Rp 20,000/kilogram from normal price Rp 14,000/kilogram.

Responding this matter, Head of West Jakarta Cooperative, Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Business and Trade (KUMKMP) Sub-Department, M Adiah, stated that vegetables price at Induk Kramatjati Market is still high, which affecting vegetables price in traditional markets. As for the other vegetables, like chili, onion, and tomato, their price is also increasing up to over Rp 5,000/kilogram.

“The price hike of vegetables is also caused by many dead vegetables due to flood in supplier areas. Thus, vegetables stocks are limited but demand remains high. Moreover, the price will rise again approaching the Chinese New Year. But, it usually decrease again after the Chinese New Year,” she uttered.

source: News View