Chili prices in Singaraja, Buleleng have reportedly gone up significantly over the past couple of weeks: from Rp 30,000 to Rp 65,000 per kilo, making for an increase of 100 percent.
“The increase is due to the limited number of farmers, so the stock is very limited,” Jero Widya, a trader at Pasar Anyar in Singaraja, told Rima News on Wednesday.
The trader said prices have also risen of other basic staples like onion, garlic, and various vegetables.
It hasn’t exactly been an easy time for Bali farmers—the drought in this El Nino year has lead to a number of farmers insuring their rice fields.
“Before, we could sell up to Rp 500,000 a day (gross), but now just about Rp 250,000-300,000,” Widya said of chili sales.
Widya also added that of course, buyers are becoming less and less as prices rise. He added that he hopes prices will stabilize soon, though they are not expected to drop down again soon.
“I’m just a small trader. The increase in the price of chili and some other basic staple items has caused earnings to plummet to 50 percent,” another trader at the pasar, Made Kusmayanti said.
