Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Agung Hendriadi said the high prices were in line with high demand during major religious celebrations. People tend to eat more beef on these days and the government imports meat to stabilize prices.

“We import beef only for the Jakarta market, while other provinces such as Central and East Java can fulfill demand with local supply,” Agung told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday in Jakarta.

However, he continued, meat prices in Aceh had escalated the most compared to other cities due to high demand during the meugang celebration, a local Acehnese tradition to welcome the Idul Fitri and Idul Adha festivities by cooking meat for the whole family and for the needy.

“Meat prices hiked about 30 percent in Aceh. They must pay Rp 180,000 per kilogram of buffalo meat, while customers in Jakarta enjoy prices of around Rp 65,000,” Agung said.

Other fluctuating staple foods in Jakarta include chili and rice. Food traders at the Kramat Jati market sold chili at Rp 27,000 per kilogram from Rp 25,000.

“When Idul Adha comes, Muslims need chili to cook curry, rendang and dendeng balado,” Agung said. (rez)

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