TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Beef and chicken prices in a number of markets in Bandung and other regions in West Java have hiked two days before Eid.
General Secretary, West Java Market Vendors and Traditional Stalls (Pesat), Muslim Arif admitted that the beef and chicken prices hike is quite significant. The increase was due to limited stock of the two commodities, according to him.
“The stock is critical, thus we have supply problem. The transport of the commodities has also been hampered by traffic jam. Most of the breeders are from Tasik and Ciamis, in addition to other regions,” he said on Monday, July 4, 2016.
The supplier’s price has increased by around Rp7,000 per kilogram for beef carcass, making beef prices to reach around Rp130,000 to Rp140,000/kg and chicken prices reach Rp42,000 to Rp44,000/kg.
“The price of Rp130,000 is relatively fair because the supplier’s price has increased, while people’s demand has also increased ahead of Lebaran,” he said.
West Java Pesat has also urged the government to conduct an audit of the price for day old chick (DOC) up to the supplier’s price. According to Muslim, vendors, as part of the society, don’t wish the prices of beef and chiken to soar.
“We are also part of the society, we hope that the government can stabilize the prices by conducting an audit. The consumers will also benefit [from it],” he said.
He predicted that chicken and beef prices will lower during Eid al-Fitr holiday, whereas current demand from consumers is still high ahead of Lebaran.
