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mid the skyrocketing price of chili, the Jakarta administration is set to distribute thousands of chili seedlings to the local people in Ciangir, Tangerang, where the city owns a plot of land.

As many as 18,000 seedlings will be planted in the location that was previously dedicated as the planned site for low-cost apartments for the elderly.

Acting Jakarta Governor Sumarsono said the Fisheries, Agriculture and Food Security Agency would soon distribute the seedlings to the locals who lived around the land plot.

The plan was taken in order to help stabilize the current chili price hike that could reach up to Rp 150,000 (US$11.3) per kilogram after the New Year holiday, nearly four-fold of the regular price of Rp 40,000 per kg.

The plantation would take up one hectare of the total 17 hectares of land in Ciangir, Jakarta Economic Affairs Bureau head Sri Haryati said.

If properly implemented, the city hoped the plantation would help with the chili supply as the demand for chili remains high according to data from her office that recorded 120 tons of chili consumption per day in the capital city.