One trader told Amin that the price of chili was Rp100 thousand (around US$6.5) five days ago, but is now Rp40 thousand (around US$2.6) per kilogram.
A chili trader named Riyati (60) said the current price of curly red chilis is around Rp52 thousand (around US$3.37) per kg, down from Rp58 thousand per kg the previous day.
Meanwhile, the price of large green chilies is around Rp45 thousand.
Taking note of the problem, the Vice President said that cyclical swings in chili prices around the Christmas holiday and prior to the New Year festivities are a normal phenomenon, given the increase in consumer demand during the period year after year.
"(The increase is) Because of Christmas and the New Year, (on) the usual days (the prices) are down," the Vice President told the traders.
During his visit, a number of traders also expressed the hope that the Johar Market would again become crowded with buyers like it was before the 2015 fire.
"The hope of traders here is that this market will be crowded again because many of the market residents here have moved to places they don't know," another trader told the Vice President.
In the aftermath of the 2015 fire, the local government has revitalized the market and constructed a modern building. It is also supporting digital consumer transactions to lure customers to the market, which presently has 339 traders.
The new features offered at the market include QR cashless payments through Bank Mandiri.
Related news: Christmas, New Year festivities have affected food prices: VP
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Translator: Andi, Alita, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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