No imported shallots are circulating in Indonesian market: minister

Jakarta, June 25 (Antara) - Indonesian Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman made assurance that there were no imported shallots in the market, as the supply is currently around 200 thousand tons per month. "There are no imported shallots. We have a surplus stock. Our monthly requirement is only about 90 thousand to 100 thousand tons whereas our supply reaches 200 thousand tons. If imported shallots are in circulation, it must be illegal, and we will impose sanctions," the minister stated while launching the market operation at the Kramat Jati Wholesale Market here on Thursday. Kramat Jati Wholesale Market Manager Salam seconded the minister's remarks, saying that no imported shallots were entering the market. "The shallots imported from Thailand are bulkier in shape and look a little pale while the shallots from Brebes are suppler. Onions from Bima are harder and cause more irritation to the eyes," Salam explained. According to rumors, Thai shallots had entered the Kramat Jati market, but after the stock was examined, they turned out to have come from Garut, West Java. "Yes, the stock is of Garut's shallots and resembles Thai shallots, as the seedlings were sourced from the Philippines," he added. In order to stabilize the increasing prices of basic necessities in the current fasting month, the government is launching market operations. Minister Sulaiman remarked that with the launch of the market operations, the government was able to bring down the price of shallots to Rp18 thousand-Rp20 thousand per kilogram (kg) from the previous high of Rp76 thousand per kg. The market operations are being conducted across the country in markets that sell basic necessities such as rice, sugar, cooking oil, shallots, and red chili.