As we know, the price of soybeans in the market is still very high, even though the government has assigned Bulog to import it.
Bandarlampung (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Trade has expressed its readiness to carry out special interventions to reduce soybean prices in the market.

"As we know, the price of soybeans in the market is still very high, even though the government has assigned Bulog to import it. This is also one of our concerns," Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said while visiting the Pasir Gintung Market, here on Saturday.

Given the high price of soybeans in the market, special interventions will be carried out next week, he added.

"For this reason, there will be another meeting next week to explore the reasons for the price not falling and find out directly the difficulties in the market," he informed.

Hasan said that the price of soybeans in the market is currently around Rp13 thousand–Rp14 thousand per kilogram.

"If Bulog's soybean import process is carried out well, the selling price can be only Rp11 thousand per kilogram from the current price of Rp13 thousand per kilogram," he added.

He said he hopes that the government's efforts will promptly lower the price of soybeans in the market and make things easier for tempeh and tofu producers' businesses.

Meanwhile, commenting on the rising soybean prices at Pasir Gintung Market, Wasni, a tofu trader, said, "If we buy from the Indonesian Tofu and Tempe Cooperative Center (Puskopti), soybean prices can still be around Rp11 thousand–12 thousand per kilogram.”

However, outside Puskopti, the prices of soybeans can be much higher.

"I hope soybean prices can go down because people still rely on tofu and tempeh when the prices for chicken, eggs, meat, and fish are still higher," she said.

"But, if the price of soybeans rises, then the price of tofu and tempeh will go up, so that people will find it difficult to buy them," she added.

Based on data from the Perum Bulog Regional Division of Lampung, in 2022, Lampung soybeans were distributed to the Puskopti in the area in several stages.

In the first stage in April 2022, at least 409 tons of soybeans were distributed, or 8.9 percent of the ceiling of 4,568 tons. Meanwhile, in May, 800 tons of soybeans, or 27 percent of the ceiling of 2,862 tons, were disbursed.

Furthermore, in June, 1,450 tons of soybeans were provided to Puskopti, or around 50 percent of the ceiling value of 2,800 tons. In July, 1,180 tons of soybeans were provided, or 41 percent of the ceiling value of 2,800 tons.

Meanwhile, in the fifth stage in October, 1,500 tons of soybeans, or 75 percent of the ceiling value of 2 thousand tons, were distributed. In November, 870 tons of soybeans were disbursed out of the ceiling value of 2 thousand tons.

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Translator: Ruth Intan Sozometa Kanafi, Katriana
Editor: Sri Haryati
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