Bapanas: Third Week of Ramadan Marks Turning Point for Cayenne Pepper Prices The arrival of the harvest from Java is said to be the main factor in the price drop. Rep: Frederikus Dominggus Bata/ Red: Gita Amanda

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Secretary General of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Sarwo Edhy stated that the third week of Ramadan marks a turning point in the prices of cayenne pepper in the market. The main harvest in several production centers has begun to flow and is putting pressure on retail prices. He conveyed that, in general, food prices are relatively stable. The only commodity that had surged was cayenne pepper, but it is now showing a downward trend as the harvest enters the market. "The third week of fasting has already started the main harvest. That's the information from the Director General of Horticulture," said Sarwo Edhy in Jakarta, Tuesday (3/3/2026). He explained that the main obstacle to normalizing cayenne pepper prices occurs during the rainy season. Farmers tend to delay harvesting because the risk of spoilage is quite high when picked in wet conditions. Distribution is also a challenge. When the weather is sunny, farmers harvest until late at night and ...