Indonesia Sends 7 Tonnes of Chilies to Halmahera to Ease Prices

Indonesia’s Trade Ministry sent 7 tonnes of chilies from East Java to Halmahera to help bring prices down.

The shipment was coordinated with the National Food Agency, Bank Indonesia and local governments.

Extreme weather has reduced chili harvests, while East Java still has a surplus.

On 3 November, the national average price of red bird’s-eye chilies was 71,662 rupiah per kilogram, above the 57,000-rupiah reference price.

The ministry plans to use the same approach for other foods, including eggs, sending supplies from areas with a surplus to places where prices are higher.

More even distribution is intended to stabilize prices and help farmers keep operating.