The local commodity auction market held by the Department of Trade and Cooperatives for Small and Medium Enterprises of South Tapanuli (Trade and SMEs of South Tapanuli) brought fresh air to the economic growth of agricultural business actors in the district. Head of the South Tapanuli Trade and SME Office, Novita Sari Wahyuni, told Antara that they held the auction market, which included 18 commodities, on Wednesday (19/10). The meeting was attended by the Bapebti of the Ministry of Trade, the North Sumatra Ministry of Industry and Trade, the North Sumatran APSI Head, the Sipirok Sub-district Head and the South Tapanuli Agriculture Service. All 18 commodities being auctioned include red chilies, cayenne pepper, onions, cinnamon, frankincense, rice, cabbage, coconut oil, sweet potatoes, corn, palm sugar, palm sugar, bananas, peanuts, arabica coffee, salak and kolang. times. "After the opening of the auction, there were 4 buyers or local buyers who were present and interested in a number of these commodities, while large retailers such as Maju Bersama, Berastagi Mart, and Carefour who participated in the online auction asked for a meeting with business actors in Medan," he said.
Accompanied by the Head of the Market Division of the Industry and Trade Service and UKM Tapsel Dody Fadillah, Novita explained that the commodities sold to local buyers in the auction, such as red chilies, were IDR 27 thousand per kilogram (kg) and required 200 kg per week. Furthermore, the demand for brown sugar is IDR 17,500 per kg with a request of two tons per month, then ant sugar is 400 kg per month for IDR 25 thousand per kg, and Arabica coffee (greenbean) IDR 110,000 per kg with a capacity of one ton per month. "According to the directives, we plan with the North Sumatra Province Industry and Trade Office to meet with exporters and industrial players related to commodities in the process such as incense, coconut oil, corn, and kolang kaling," he said. According to Novita, the purpose of holding this auction market is in an effort to break the distribution chain as well as the issue of trade prices for various regional superior commodities, which are considered to be controlled by middlemen. "What is clear is that this step cannot be separated from the full encouragement of the South Tapanuli Regent Dolly P.Pasaribu to create a healthy, intelligent, and prosperous South Tapanuli community, especially to encourage community economic growth from the agriculture and plantation sectors," said Novita.
