Beef remains expensive high approaching Idul Fitri, with prices hovering above Rp 120,000 (US$9.11) per kilogram at major markets.

Wasino, 45, a beef seller at the Mayestik Market, South Jakarta, has set the price of beef at around Rp 120,000 per kg.

He said on Tuesday that the prices were still high despite efforts by the government to intervene in the market.

As reported before, the government has attempted to flood the market with imported beef to put a brake on surging prices.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo himself has said he wants to see prices revolve at around Rp 80,000 per kg only.

However, data from Informasi Pangan Jakarta show that the average beef price has remained stubbornly high, above Rp 120,000 per kg for the past month.

Wasino claimed that the cheap beef introduced by the government was mostly bought up by middlemen. “So, the price is still high.”

His own beef sales have dropped significantly to 40 kg per day from about 100 kg per day last year as imported beef entered the market.

Robi, 38, a beef seller at the Pasar Minggu market in South Jakarta, sells his beef at a higher price as well.

He sold a kilogram of tenderloin for Rp 140,000 per kg, with regular joints at Rp 130,000 per kg on Tuesday.

“Currently, I can only sell 200 kg of beef per day. Last year was better with 600 kg to 700 kg per day because there was no beef from Bulog [the State Logistics Agency] in the market.” (vps/tas)

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