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Frozen Meat Floods Prabumulih City in South Sumatra Province
Prabumulih - Many fresh meat (beef) vendors in Prabumulih Inpres Market are complaining about frozen meat sold by other vendors. Besides disrupting the price, fresh meat vendors are having difficulties in selling their product because frozen meat is sold cheaper than fresh meat.
An inspection from a collaborative team between the Industry and Trade Service Office, Livestock, Agriculture and Forestry Service Office, Indonesia Islamic Council (MUI), and police found many beef vendors selling frozen products. Not only meat, but internal organs are also sold at cheap price.
The frozen meat is ice-preserved imported beef from supermarkets. Usually the meat is brought from large wholesaler/distributors.
The vendors said they shifted to frozen meat because it was difficult to get fresh meat. Moreover they don’t have to go over to get frozen meat; all they need to do was call and distributors would delivery their order.
In terms of price, frozen meat is cheaper compared to fresh meat. If in other regions fresh meat could be sold at Rp 100,000 per kilogram, in Prabumulih vendors are even considering of selling at Rp 80,000 per kilogram.
”Frozen meat is sold at Rp 55,000 in the morning and could fall to Rp 45,000 in the afternoon. Meanwhile for fresh meat, even the base price is Rp 62,000,” said Indo, a fresh meat vendor in Prabumulih Inpres Market.
This condition is also caused by the low number of cattle slaughtered. Indo admitted that it started since the beginning of last month; in response vendors began to search for other alternatives and brought in frozen meat.
But, this new alternative in turn caused new problems, which is unhealthy competition. Now, most vendors renting shops sell fresh meat while roadside vendors tend to sell frozen meat. (Mukhsin Try M)
Source : Kompas