Senator Mirah Calls for Stable Chili Prices and Protection of NTB Consumers During Ramadan 1447 H

25 February 2026 oleh mediadpd

Mataram (25/02), dpd.go.id – The momentum of the holy month of Ramadan 1447 Hijri, which should be a time of peace and blessings for the community, is instead being overshadowed by economic challenges, particularly the significant rise in chili prices, which have reached above Rp100,000 to Rp180,000 per kilogram in several areas of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB)

Responding to this situation, NTB Senator Mirah Midadan Fahmid expressed her concern and urged concrete measures to maintain price stability and protect people’s purchasing power.

In her statement, Senator Mirah emphasized that the spike in chili prices ahead of and during Ramadan is not merely a normal market fluctuation, but a serious issue that directly impacts people’s lives, especially middle- and lower-income groups. She noted that chili is a staple commodity that plays an important role in the daily consumption of NTB residents.

“Ramadan is a spiritual moment that should bring peace to the community, not add to their economic burden due to rising prices of basic necessities. The government must ensure that food price stability is maintained, particularly for essential commodities such as bird’s eye chili,” Senator Mirah said.

She also appreciated the swift response of the NTB Provincial Government, which has coordinated with various parties, including the Food Security Agency, the Food Task Force, and efforts to bring in chili supplies from other regions such as Central Java to increase supply. However, she stressed that these short-term measures must be accompanied by more systematic long-term strategies.

“Inter-regional distribution may serve as a temporary solution, but we must also strengthen regional food security by supporting local farmers, increasing production capacity, and improving distribution systems to prevent recurring shortages,” she explained.

Furthermore, Senator Mirah highlighted the possibility of speculative practices or price manipulation by certain parties. She fully supports law enforcement authorities and the Food Task Force in conducting thorough investigations if any indications of violations are found.

“If there are indeed speculators taking advantage of the Ramadan momentum to gain excessive profits, firm action must be taken. The state must not lose to practices that harm the wider community,” she asserted.

In addition, Senator Mirah encouraged local governments to strengthen real-time price monitoring systems and enhance cross-sector coordination to anticipate price spikes, particularly for strategic commodities. She acknowledged that extreme weather has been a major factor in reduced production, but emphasized that risk mitigation must be part of regional food security planning.

According to her, the momentum of Ramadan should serve as a reminder of the importance of food self-sufficiency and prioritizing public welfare. The government, farmers, distributors, and all stakeholders must work in synergy to ensure supply availability and price stability.

"The government must ensure that the public can observe Ramadan peacefully without worrying about rising prices of basic necessities. It's not just about the economy; it's also about justice and the well-being of the people,” concluded Senator Mirah.