North Sumatra Cuts Prices of Red Chillies and Chicken Meat

MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Regional Inflation Control Team of the North Sumatra Provincial Government took measures on Monday, 12 October 2026, to reduce the prices of red chillies and chicken meat at several markets in Medan and the surrounding areas. The initiative brought the price of red chillies down to IDR 55,000 per kilogram and chicken meat to IDR 35,000 per kilogram. The measures aim to protect the public's purchasing power amid rising food prices.

The intervention followed instructions from North Sumatra Governor Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution, who called on the regional administration to maintain stable prices for essential food commodities. Alongside supplying goods at more affordable prices, the team is monitoring trends in the prices of other essential food items to prevent market disruptions and curb regional inflation.

Before the intervention, red chillies were selling for between IDR 70,000 and IDR 80,000 per kilogram at several markets. Prices at some outlets were even higher. Following the team's intervention, consumers can now purchase red chillies for IDR 55,000 per kilogram.

Chicken meat has also become cheaper. Previously priced at around IDR 40,000 to IDR 50,000 per kilogram, it is now available for IDR 35,000 per kilogram at outlets participating in the initiative.

Food Prices Fall Following Government Intervention

Dedi Jaminsyah Putra Harahap, Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Office of Industry, Trade, Energy and Mineral Resources, said the government had responded to rising prices for red chillies and chicken meat. Both commodities were receiving particular attention because their price movements affected household spending and the inflation rate.

"Today, the Regional Inflation Control Team of the North Sumatra Provincial Government, together with several relevant institutions, is carrying out measures to reduce the prices of red chillies and chicken meat. At the same time, we are monitoring the prices of other essential food commodities at several markets across Medan," Dedi told journalists on Monday during a market inspection at Sukaramai Market in Medan.

According to Dedi, the intervention forms part of the region's inflation-control efforts and implements the governor's instructions. The government aims to prevent rising food prices from placing additional pressure on the public, particularly households that must allocate a substantial proportion of their income to essential food items.

The initiative involves the North Sumatra Provincial Office of Industry, Trade, Energy and Mineral Resources; the North Sumatra Provincial Office of Agriculture and Food Security; the Economic Bureau of the Provincial Government Secretariat; the regional enterprise Aneka Industri dan Jasa North Sumatra; Bank Indonesia; and the North Sumatra Statistics Agency.

The team is focusing on seven markets: Sukaramai Market, Palapa Market, also known as Brayan Market, Petisah Market, Sei Sikambing Market, Delitua Market, Tanjung Morawa Market and Kampung Lalang Market. By selecting these locations, the government hopes to reach consumers across different parts of Medan and the surrounding areas.

Dedi stressed that the team would continue monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the programme to ensure that the goods reached the intended consumers. The government must also ensure that the price reductions remain in place beyond the immediate campaign and contribute to longer-term food price stability.

"We will continue to monitor and evaluate the implementation of these measures to ensure they reach the right target groups and make a tangible contribution to stabilising food prices and controlling inflation in North Sumatra," he said.

Price monitoring and checks on the availability of essential food commodities will also continue ahead of the national religious holiday period. Particular attention will be paid to Christmas 2026 and the 2026/2027 New Year period in December. During this time, changes in demand and the distribution of goods may affect the prices of various food commodities.

Red Chillies Sourced Directly from Farmers' Groups

Swangro Lumbanbatu, President Director of the regional enterprise Aneka Industri dan Jasa North Sumatra, said the price intervention formed part of coordinated efforts among government institutions to control inflation. Red chillies and chicken meat were among the commodities contributing to inflation and therefore required coordinated monitoring and targeted measures.

"As the Head of the Industry and Trade Office has explained, this initiative is intended to control inflation in North Sumatra, as both commodities are among the factors contributing to inflation," Swangro said.

He explained that the red chillies sold during the initiative were sourced directly from local farmers' groups. The quantity supplied amounted to nearly one tonne. Direct procurement from producers is intended to improve supply chains while enabling the public to purchase the commodity at more affordable prices.

"In addition to continuously monitoring market conditions, we will continue to carry out initiatives of this kind to protect the public's purchasing power. We are committed to active cooperation with the relevant authorities, including the Office of Industry, Trade, Energy and Mineral Resources and Bank Indonesia," he said.

These statements highlight the importance of cooperation between the regional government, relevant institutions and distribution stakeholders in addressing price fluctuations in food markets. Market monitoring alone is not sufficient. It must be supported by concrete action to safeguard supplies and improve public access to essential goods.

Involving farmers' groups also gives the government an opportunity to establish more direct links between production areas and consumer markets. However, the long-term impact will continue to depend on available harvest volumes, efficient supply chains and changing levels of market demand.

Traders Hope Affordable Prices Will Last

Traders at Sukaramai Market have welcomed the reductions in the prices of red chillies and chicken meat. They hope the government can maintain price stability so that consumers can continue to afford their daily shopping, traders can keep their businesses running and farmers can receive reasonable prices for their produce.

Rahmiyati, who has sold red chillies at Sukaramai Market for 35 years, hopes prices will remain stable and benefit everyone involved. In her view, affordable prices could help sustain consumer demand without harming farmers or traders.

"We hope prices remain stable so that everyone can afford to shop. Farmers should not suffer losses, we traders should be able to sell our goods well, and the public should continue to be able to afford them," she said.

Rahmiyati also praised the government's efforts to keep food prices under control. She hopes the intervention will have a lasting effect rather than bringing prices down only for the duration of the campaign.

"Of course, we are very grateful to the government. We hope prices will remain stable at this level," she said.

Siti Khadijah, a chicken meat seller at Sukaramai Market, expressed similar views. She believes that a price of IDR 35,000 per kilogram could help preserve consumers' purchasing power. Excessively high prices, by contrast, could reduce the number of customers and directly affect traders' sales.

"We hope this is not just a temporary measure. If prices are too high, customers stop coming. IDR 35,000 per kilogram is already a reasonable price. Please make sure it does not remain at this level only temporarily," she said.

The traders' expectations show that the success of a price intervention cannot be measured solely by whether prices fall while the programme is under way. The government must also ensure a consistent supply, take distribution costs into account and monitor price movements so that both consumers and businesses benefit from the measures.

The North Sumatra Provincial Government and the Regional Inflation Control Team will continue monitoring the availability and prices of essential food commodities at markets across the region. The efforts are intended to promote stable food prices, curb inflation and protect the public's purchasing power ahead of Christmas and New Year.

For consumers, stable prices for red chillies and chicken meat are important in managing household expenditure. The government's next challenge is to ensure that the reductions achieved through the intervention are sustained despite changing supply and demand conditions. Regular evaluations and close cooperation among the institutions involved will remain essential to extending the benefits beyond the immediate campaign. (IDNC)

REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala