Egg Prices Plunge, Indonesian Farmers Seek Government Protection

Hundreds of egg farmers in Blitar, East Java, have taken to the streets to demand government intervention against plummeting egg prices and soaring feed costs. The farmers, organized under Peternak Rakyat Blitar Raya, report that egg prices have been below their production cost for three months.

Suyanto, the coordinator for the farmers' group, stated that current farm-gate prices are Rp20,600 per kilogram, significantly lower than the production cost of Rp23,000 per kilogram. This is despite the government's reference purchase price (HAP) being between Rp24,500 and Rp26,500 per kilogram. The situation is exacerbated by rising feed prices, with a 50kg sack now costing between Rp400,000 and Rp430,000, up from previous prices of Rp370,000 to Rp400,000. Corn prices are also high, at Rp6,400-Rp6,500 per kilogram, well above the government's price stabilization target.

Farmers are forced to sell personal assets to afford feed, unsure when the situation will normalize. They are also concerned about the potential impact of foreign investors entering Indonesia's poultry farming sector, fearing they will be marginalized. Blitar Regent Rijanto acknowledged the farmers' plight, noting that current prices threaten businesses with closure, especially with rising input costs. He pledged to relay their concerns to the central government, highlighting Blitar's significant daily egg production of 450 tons.

During their protest, farmers displayed posters with their demands and distributed free eggs to the public as a social gesture.