Soybean Prices Are Still Expensive, Subsidy Increased to Rp 3,000 per Kilogram

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of trade, Zulkifli Hasan said that the government would increase the soybean subsidy for tofu and tempeh production to Rp 3,000 per kilogram, from Rp 1,000 per kilogram. The proposal for additional subsidies came from the Association of Indonesian Tempe and Tofu Producers Cooperatives (Gakoptindo).

"There is indeed a proposal from them [Gakoptindo] to provide the subsidy from Rp 1,000 per kilogram to Rp 3,000 per kilogram, but be patient," said the person who greeted by Zulhas when met at the Cipinang Rice Market, East Jakarta on Monday, November 7, 2022.

Zulkifli said that the government is currently still applying a subsidy of Rp 1,000 per kilogram. However, the proposal will soon be considered by the related ministry and institution. Because at the same time, the government is also increasing the volume of imports so that the supply of soybeans can be sufficient until the end of the year.

The subsidy was given due to the recent international soar in soybean prices. With the soybean import cycle taking up to 50 days, the current domestic soybean cost is still dependent on the price in the previous July-August. Plus the growth in distribution costs as a result of the increase in world fuel prices from US$ 3,6 per bushel to US$ 5,8 per bushel.

Although soybean prices are still soaring, Zulkifli revealed that President Joko Widodo had tasked Bulog to increase the volume of soybeans, from 50,000 tons to 350,000 tons.

Consequently, Bulog, which has imported 50 thousand tons of soybeans, will increase the import by 300 thousand tons. So that the government will have a stock of soybean reserves of 350 thousand tons. Therefore, the subsidy to be distributed by the government to tofu and tempeh producers will be 350 thousand tons. The subsidy is expected to make soybean prices in the market incline.

Although the purchase price of Bulog soybeans reaches Rp 11,000 to Rp 12,000, Zulkifli assured that the government will again provide a subsidy of Rp 1,000 for tofu and tempeh producers to allow soybeans prices to drop to Rp 10,000 per kilogram.

"Maybe at the end of December, we can accept soybeans for Rp 10,000 to Rp 11,000," said Zulkifli.

The Head of the National Food Agency Arief Prasetyo Adi also stated that the government has distributed subsidized soybeans to tofu and tempeh producers at 20,000 tons per month. Meanwhile, the available stock is now only 2,5 to 3 million tons, which is likely to only meet the needs until mid-November 2022.

Yet Arief is optimistic with the realization of soybean import of 700 thousand tons and the remaining stock of Bulog in the previous year has filled up the shortage. So he hopes that the needs of tofu and tempeh producers are still sufficient until the end of December 31, 2022.

"We have prepared 200 thousand tons. This means that the soybean stock will be sufficient and the tofu and tempeh producer will still receive subsidies until the end of the year," said Arief.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI l IMAJI LASAHIDO

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