July 18, 2012

 

Indonesia's chicken meat sellers rally on meat price

 

 

After the staggering price hike of chicken meat, thousands of broiler chicken meat vendors in 38 traditional markets in Bandung, Indonesia are warning to strike.

 

Around 200 vendors rallied in front of the Gedung Sate gubernatorial office, demanding the administration take necessary measures to control the price of chicken meat.

 

"If the administration does not do anything, we will not sell the meat," the head of the Bandung Chicken Seller Union, Yoyo Sutarya said, adding that currently there were around 5,000 chicken meat sellers in town.

 

During the protest, the sellers brought along cuts of chicken legs, wings and heads and burned chicken cages.

 

Edi, 37, a seller at the Cihaurgeulis market, said the basic price of chicken meat kept climbing. The price of broiler chicken meat has increased from IDR26,000 (US$2.70) per kilogramme to IDR32,000 (US$3.38) per kg.

 

"The price does not make sense anymore," said Edi, adding the price had climbed since early June. What is bothering Edi and the other sellers is that they know there is no shortage of stock: "The problem is there is no scarcity," he said, adding that ideally, chicken meat would be sold at IDR24,000 (US$2.54) to IDR26,000 (US$2.70) per kg.

 

Yoyo called the price increase irrational, saying that such conditions made it hard to sell the chicken meat. "The purchasing power decreases and this has greatly affected our business," he said.

 

In the meantime, the West Java Industry and Trade Agency head, Ferry Sofwan Arif, said that the increases had been going on since early June, even though there was no shortage of stock.

 

He said that the agency held a survey in five markets in Bandung and found that there was a 15% increase on broiler chicken meat. "We should assess the price increase by also taking into consideration the prices of other components, such as chicken food and production costs," said Ferry.

 

He demanded that poultry breeders not raise the butchery and transportation costs, as it might increase the selling price of the chicken meat in the market.

 

"The average chicken meat price in Bandung is IDR28,200 (US$2.98) per kg, while the highest IDR32,000 (US$3.38) in Kosambi market," said Ferry, adding that the price of beef has also increased by IDR4,000 (US$2.70), with prices starting from IDR73,000 (US$2.70) per kg.