TEMPO.CO, Padang - Red onion farmers in Solok, West Sumatera, have urged the government to halt its red onion import plan due to abundant supplies.
“We reject [government’s plan to import red onion]. The government should not import red onion,” Kasmudi, one of red onion farmers in Solok Regency, said on Monday, May 30, 2016.
Kasmudi revealed that the red onion price at the farmer’s level over the last week dropped from Rp 30,000 (US$2.2) to Rp 20,000 (US$1.5) per kilogram. In addition, Kasmudi said that red onion supplies have soared due to the harvesting season.
Kasmudi explained that the red onion price was set by wholesalers. When the supplies increased, Kasmudi added, the price would decline. Kasmudi expects the government to remove the wholesaler system by managing post-harvest supplies, which in turn will improve the price at the farmer level.
The red onion price at the vendor’s level in Padang, West Sumatera, has also dropped from Rp 32,000 (US$2.3) to Rp 30,000 (2.2) per kilogram.
ANDRI EL FARUQI
