DINAR was shocked when she had to pay Rp13,000 (around US$0.81) for 250 grams of garlic at a stall in Depok, West Java, on Wednesday, May 22. Normally, the 40-year-old housewife was able to get more garlic for only Rp10,000 (US$0.62).

Marni from Medan, North Sumatra, also faces an increase in the price of garlic from Rp500 to Rp1,000 (US$0.03-0.06). She had to pay Rp40,000 (US$2.50) for a kilogram of garlic at the Sukaramai Market in Medan.