South Sulawesi Deficit 519 Tons of Chili and Garlic 669 Tons Ahead of Christmas

December 12, 2025
10:24 PM

Makassar, hitclubapk3 Indonesia
—
South Sulawesi Province (
South Sulawesi
) is estimated to experience shortages of a number of strategic food commodities, especially
cayenne pepper
and
garlic
ahead of Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 (Nataru).
“Strategic food shortages such as chilies and garlic are a concern. Demand will definitely increase ahead of Christmas,” said Head of the South Sulawesi Food Security Service, M Ilyas, when confirmed, Friday (12/12).
According to December food balance data, continued Ilyas, South Sulawesi experienced a deficit of cayenne pepper of up to 519 tonnes and garlic recorded a deficit of 669 tonnes.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
“As for the balance sheet for cayenne pepper, yes, we are indeed in minus. Minus 519 tons in South Sulawesi. So, our resilience is indeed minus 6 days, you know. So, the stock is indeed lacking, yes. Then it’s the same with garlic. Garlic is the same,” he said.
Ilyas said, based on the food balances of 24 city districts, garlic stocks were indeed low last October.
“Last October, garlic was low, but now it’s starting to not be low, yes, minus too. So, the balance is minus 16 days. But we have a shortage of approximately 669 tons in South Sulawesi,” he said.
Meanwhile, a number of central areas such as Jeneponto Regency still have chili harvest stocks which are expected to increase supply.However, several other areas are experiencing shortages.
“In Jeneponto we still have chilies, around 2 to 2.5 tonnes. But in areas such as Sidrap and Tana Toraja there are indeed fewer of them. In Toraja there is an alternative katokkon chili,” he explained.
According to Ilyas, seasonal and weather factors also influence cayenne pepper production.Farmers have generally accelerated harvesting since September to avoid crop damage due to rain.
“Farmers know that the rainy season will definitely be damaged. So they harvest early. The stocks that are still high now are in Jeneponto, around 2,000 to 2,500 tons,” he explained.
Ilyas said the provincial government had prepared a number of mitigation measures, including providing distribution, cheap food movements, as well as optimizing commodity distribution between district/city areas.
“For this Nataru, we have had a meeting. What we are doing is providing distribution, a cheap food movement, and efforts to distribute food between regions. Food balance data is a guide for districts/cities to take solution steps,” he concluded.
[Gambas:hitclubapk3 Video]
(mir/sfr)