The government is urged to remain vigilant regarding the escalating prices of garlic, which continue to exhibit an upward trend. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has reported a 4.86% increase in onion prices, reaching IDR 39,678 per kg compared to December 2023. Moreover, the number of districts and cities witnessing a surge in garlic prices is expanding, rising from 304 in the first week of January 2024 to 326 in the second week, as highlighted by BPS Price Statistics Director Windhiarso Putranto during the 2024 Inflation Control Coordination Meeting.
Similarly, shallots have experienced a price hike of 16.04%, amounting to IDR 38,635 per kg compared to the national average retail price in December 2024. The areas witnessing an increase in shallot prices have also grown from 340 districts and cities to 360 locations.
At the same event, Bambang Wisnubroto, the Director of Basic Necessities and Important Goods at the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag), disclosed that the price of Honan garlic has reached IDR 39,500 per kg, formed from an import price of IDR 28,500 per kg. However, due to anticipated losses and additional costs, the retail price has reached IDR 39,500 per kg. The Ministry of Trade expressed concern over this situation, particularly as import permits for garlic have not been issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Bambang emphasized the need for the Ministry of Agriculture to promptly issue Recommendations for the Import of Horticultural Products (RIHP) to address the current circumstances. The inability to issue import permits for 2023 and 2024 could potentially lead to speculation in the market. Currently, Indonesia heavily relies on imported garlic supplies, constituting 90-95% of the total.