The central tempe production unit is situated near the Taman Bharata settlement at Jalan Cimangu Barat Tapura, Tanah Sareal, Bogor.
During his visit, Agung observed the condition of the mill and met with the factory owner.
He also held a meeting with several members of the Tofu Tempe Association, Indonesian Tofu and Tempe Cooperative (Kopti) and Premier Indonesian Tofu and Tempe Cooperative (Primkopti). They discussed the soaring price of soybean in Indonesia, which was forcing the members to stop producing tempe and tofu.
In the meeting, Agung said the price hike issue must be dealt with seriously.
"The government has taken some steps to solve the problem. One of them is to waive import duty and allow producers to import soybeans directly," he added.
Agung expressed hope that Bogor producers would resume their operations by Friday so there would be adequate supply of tempe and tofu during Id-ul-Fitr.
Before the minister`s arrival in Bogor, the members of Kopti and Primkopti conducted inspections at several traditional markets in the city in order to check whether tempe and tahu were still being sold anywhere.
Kopti and Primkopti had called on the producers and sellers of tempe and tahu to join the three-day strike in protest of the increasing price of soybean over the past five months.
(F013/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
