"The goal is to ensure that the price of tempeh does not increase, so the size is reduced. Thus, it is smaller and lighter," Mukhamad Ridloi, a tempeh maker, stated in Yogyakarta on Tuesday.
Ridloi earlier used 500 grams of soybeans to make one block of tempeh, though currently, he only used 400 grams, so the tempeh he produced was smaller.
The tempeh maker stated that soybean prices had continued to increase since January. Initially, it was priced at Rp 9,000 per kilogram, though now, it costs over Rp11,000 per kilogram.
“The current increase in soybean prices is the highest. A few years ago, the same had occurred. There was a rise in soybean prices, from Rp7,000 per kilogram to Rp 9,000 per kilogram," he recalled.
Although producers in other cities went on strike, it did not seem to be the case for Yogyakarta's craftsmen.
"In Yogyakarta, I think tofu and tempeh products can still be found easily, as no producers went on a strike to protest about the high price of soybeans," he pointed out.
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Nonetheless, Ridloi expects the government to reduce soybean prices, so that it did not burden the producers and consumers.
"From the information circulating, it is possible that the soybean prices would continue to rise up to Rp15,000 per kilogram in May," he noted.
Should it occur, then it is likely that the craftsmen would reduce tempeh production. In a day, Ridloi spoke of processing around 150 kg of soybeans into tempeh and later marketing it in two major markets – Giwangan and Beringharjo – in Yogyakarta.
“During a time when cooking oil is scarce, such as today, it also affects the sales of tempeh, since usually, those who buy in large quantities are fried food vendors. However, many merchants are (closed) because cooking oil is scarce. Tempe sales are decreasing,” he remarked.
Head of the Yogyakarta Trade Office, Yunianto Dwi Sutono, confirmed to no shortages of tofu and tempeh products in the city's traditional markets.
Sutono explained that the strategy to make small-sized tofu and tempeh was applied by the craftsmen owing to the high price of soybeans. “Many craftsmen use imported soybeans. However, imports from China are limited to meet the livestock needs there," he pointed out.
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Translator: Eka Arifa R, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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