Food prices skyrocketing in Lombok

Panca Nugraha ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Mataram   |  Mon, 09/15/2008 10:12 AM  |  The Archipelago

The prices of staple foods has increased in Lombok's capital of Mataram, despite a minister's guarantee the food supply was secure ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday.

Speaking on the sidelines of an official visit to the Mandalika traditional market in Mataram on Saturday, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said the national supply of staple foods was safe until the end of the year.

"There are, indeed, some commodities whose prices are rising, but the rises are still under the acceptable rates. Some commodity prices are even declining," Mari said.

At Mandalika, Mataram's largest traditional market, some prices had decreased, including the price for bulk cooking oil, now down to Rp 9,500 a liter from Rp 11,000.

Likewise, the price of chili was cut in half, from Rp 10,000 a kilogram to Rp 5,000.

Prices of beef and chicken, however, increased to Rp 59,000 and Rp 26,000 from Rp 45,000 and Rp 22,000, respectively, before Ramadan.

Similar price fluctuations were seen at the Kebon Roek Ampenan market -- also in Mataram -- and the Narmada market in West Lombok, the latter visited by Mari for an official inspection of food prices on the same day he made the announcement regarding the food supply.

On Saturday, the minister also officially opened a low-cost market organized by the local trade and industry agency in West Lombok's Gunungsari district.

Most commodities at the market were sold for between Rp 400 and Rp 2,000 less than their normal prices.

A kilogram of rice, for example, cost Rp 3,000 while branded cooking oil -- normally Rp 12,000 -- was sold for Rp 11,000 a kilogram.

Some 5,000 low-income families in Gunungsari district, provided with cards to purchase staple foods at lower prices, crowded the market, causing long lines to form.

The longest queue was seen around the state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina's 15,000-liter kerosene truck, where a liter of the fuel went for only Rp 2,800.

"Retailer kiosks sell it for Rp 4,000 per liter. So, it doesn't matter to me if there's a long line here," 40-year-old Inaq Rasinah told The Jakarta Post while waiting.

The price of kerosene has exceeded the maximum retail price of Rp 2,800 per liter allowed by the government, despite the relative security of the kerosene supply, West Lombok trade and industry agency head Joko Wiratmo said.

According to Joko, the use of kerosene for tobacco ovens has driven the price up, as a result of which Pertamina's 70,000-ton kerosene supply has been quickly selling out every day, causing a sharp increase in the price.

"It's difficult for wholesalers to recognize which purchases are for agricultural purposes and which are for household needs," Joko said.

"We will take stern measures against wholesalers who deliberately sell kerosene for tobacco drying processes," he added.

Commenting on the low-cost market, head of Gunungsari district H. Muridun said not all the district's disadvantaged families were able to enjoy the cheap commodities.

"We have 7,000 economically challenged families in the district, but only 5,000 family shopping cards were distributed for the low-cost market," he said.

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