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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Central Java Poultry Farmers Say Chicken Meat Absorption by Nutrition Program Lags

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Poultry farmers in Central Java find the absorption of chicken meat by the Free Nutrition Program (MBG) insignificant so far.
  • They welcome the policy mandating chicken dishes twice weekly, expecting it to help absorb about 7% of production.
  • Farmers are also facing rising feed costs, with live chicken prices below the government's reference price, causing losses.

Poultry farmers in Central Java believe the current absorption of chicken meat through the Free Nutrition Program (MBG) has not significantly impacted the market. While they welcome the recent decision to include chicken dishes twice a week in the program, they note that past implementation lacked consistent demand, limiting its effect on production.

But if previously there was no rule that it had to be twice a week. So chicken meat could be used, or not. So the absorption was not significant.

— SusiloSusilo, Chairman of Pinsar Central Java, explaining the limited impact of the program before the new mandate.

Susilo, Chairman of the Indonesian People's Poultry Association (Pinsar) Central Java, stated that the program previously did not mandate chicken, leading to inconsistent absorption. He estimates the new policy could absorb around 7% of the region's chicken production, which he considers a helpful, though not yet significant, boost. Central Java and Yogyakarta produce approximately 1.5 to 1.6 million chickens daily, with demand for processing around 1.3 to 1.4 million, creating a surplus that drives down live chicken prices.

So farmers are experiencing losses. Why are the prices below HAP? Because there is oversupply.

— SusiloSusilo explaining the reasons behind the low prices and farmer losses.

Currently, live chicken prices are around Rp17,000 per kilogram, falling below the government's reference price (HAP) of approximately Rp20,000 per kilogram. This price difference results in losses for farmers. Adding to their challenges, the cost of feed has increased to about Rp9,000 per kilogram, up from Rp7,000 to Rp8,500.

The menu is agreed upon: eggs twice a week, chicken meat twice a week. That agreement is in place.

— Taj YasinCentral Java Vice Governor Taj Yasin confirming the new menu policy for the MBG program.

Central Java Vice Governor Taj Yasin confirmed that the regional government, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), and farmer associations have agreed to serve eggs and chicken dishes twice a week within the MBG. He urged all nutrition service providers in Central Java to prioritize purchasing raw materials from local farmers and businesses at the government's reference prices. Meanwhile, Suwardi, Chairman of the Prosperous Poultry Farmers Cooperative (KPUS) Central Java, highlighted discrepancies in egg purchase prices, with some SPPGs buying eggs between Rp21,000 and Rp22,000 per kilogram, well below the HAP of Rp26,500.

We hope the price of eggs can be set at Rp26,000 per kilogram. This is not yet HAP, because the HAP is Rp26,500.

— SuwardiSuwardi, Chairman of KPUS Central Java, requesting a higher price for eggs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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