World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

In Indonesia, year-on-year food price increases stand at 10% or more.  According to the World Bank, 12-month food inflation is now higher than a year ago in all East Asia & Pacific countries.

High food prices have reduced the ability of families in Jakarta to buy food, says Tura, 38, who for the past 25 years has sold fruit at the Benhil market.

Red chilies are just one of the commodities which have suffered from inflation in Indonesia.This is important in Jakarta because chilis are an important part of many Indonesian dishes.

Mbah Mur, a longstanding vendor at the Benhill market, says there has been a record increase in the price of chilli within the last three months. It now stands as US $2/kilogram

Agriculture is considered a vulnerable sector in Indonesia due to weather-related disasters. Disruption to key crops such as rice is one reason why prices can suddenly shoot upwards, leaving poor families unable to pay for staples.

Continuing his father's business, Cecep has been selling fish in the Benhil market for the last three years. He says that since he began working here, the price of fish has nearly tripled.