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Chicken meat vendors protest over meat price

Thousands of broiler chicken meat sellers in 38 traditional markets in Bandung are threatening to strike following the staggering increase in the price of chicken meat

Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post)
Bandung
Fri, July 13, 2012

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Chicken meat vendors protest over meat price

T

housands of broiler chicken meat sellers in 38 traditional markets in Bandung are threatening to strike following the staggering increase in the price of chicken meat.

Around 200 vendors rallied in front of the Gedung Sate gubernatorial office, demanding the administration take necessary measures to control the price of chicken meat.

“If the administration does not do anything, we will not sell the meat,” the head of the Bandung Chicken Seller Union, Yoyo Sutarya said, adding that currently there were around 5,000 chicken meat sellers in town.

During the protest, the sellers brought along cuts of chicken legs, wings and heads and burned chicken cages.

Edi, 37, a seller at the Cihaurgeulis market, said the basic price of chicken meat kept climbing. The price of broiler chicken meat has increased from Rp 26,000 (US$2.70) per kilogram to Rp 32,000 per kg.

“The price does not make sense anymore,” said Edi, adding the price had climbed since early June. What is bothering Edi and the other sellers is that they know there is no shortage of stock: “The problem is there is no scarcity,” he said, adding that ideally, chicken meat would be sold at Rp 24,000 to Rp 26,000 per kg.

Yoyo called the price increase irrational, saying that such conditions made it hard to sell the chicken meat. “The purchasing power decreases and this has greatly affected our business,” he said.

In the meantime, the West Java Industry and Trade Agency head, Ferry Sofwan Arif, said that the increases had been going on since early June, even though there was no shortage of stock.

He said that the agency held a survey in five markets in Bandung and found that there was a 15 percent increase on broiler chicken meat. “We should assess the price increase by also taking into consideration the prices of other components, such as chicken food and production costs,” said Ferry.

He demanded that poultry breeders not raise the butchery and transportation costs, as it might increase the selling price of the chicken meat in the market.

“The average chicken meat price in Bandung is Rp 28,200 per kg, while the highest Rp 32,000 in Kosambi market,” said Ferry, adding that the price of beef has also increased by Rp 4,000, with prices starting from Rp 73,000 per kg.

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