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RI to import red chilies, shallots ahead of Ramadhan: Minister
Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel has said the government will import red chilies and shallots to meet consumer needs that are expected to increase ahead of Ramadhan
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rade Minister Rachmat Gobel has said the government will import red chilies and shallots to meet consumer needs that are expected to increase ahead of Ramadhan.
'For red chilies and shallots, they will be imported. The harvest periods of the two commodities have arrived in several areas. As the production of these commodities is seasonal in nature, however, it is unlikely that local products can fully meet the national need,' Rachmat said after he opened a local food and domestic products exhibition in Gorontalo on Sunday.
The minister refused to give details on the countries Indonesia would import the red chilies and shallots from and how much the import quotas were.
Rachmat went on to say that the government would import rice only as the last resort to meet consumer needs if the commodity supply during Ramadhan and Idul Fitri was not adequate.
The price of chili peppers in local markets in Gorontalo has drastically increased ahead of Ramadhan, selling at between Rp 50,000 (US$3.8) and Rp 56,000 per kilogram, almost double the normal price of around Rp 24,000 per kilogram.
Meanwhile, shallots are priced at Rp 32,000 per kilogram from the previous Rp 28,000.
The Gorontalo-chapter of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded that hot chili peppers, red chilies, shallots and garlic, which were included in the staple food group, contributed 90 percent to this year's May inflation in the province. (ebf)
