Agriculture Ministry Prepares Three Solutions to Address Egg Absorption Problems
JAKARTA — The Ministry of Agriculture has prepared three solutions to address difficulties in absorbing eggs produced by poultry farmers in Indonesia. The measures include using the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, building an egg-processing plant, and emergency purchases through state-owned food companies Perum Bulog and ID Food.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said the government was seeking to expand the market for eggs so that farmers’ output could be absorbed more fully. He said he had spoken to the head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to encourage egg purchases through the MBG programme.
“We have asked for several solutions for eggs. First, MBG should absorb them; we have spoken to the head of BGN,” Amran said at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday (27 October 2026).
He explained that MBG could be used as one instrument to strengthen demand for eggs produced by farmers. The government wants food requirements for the programme to also generate economic benefits for livestock businesses.
Amran said the government was also preparing a long-term measure to develop the egg-processing industry. The facilities are intended to provide an alternative outlet for production by turning eggs into ingredients that can be used by the food industry.
“The second, in the long term, is to build an egg-processing plant for egg powder,” said Amran, who also serves as head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas).
He said a state-owned enterprise would be involved in plans to build the egg-powder plant. He had discussed the proposal directly with the relevant parties, although he gave no details on the construction timetable or planned production capacity.
The government is also preparing an emergency purchasing mechanism through Bulog and ID Food. Amran said the funding required for this measure was estimated at Rp30 billion and called on the two state-owned food companies to move quickly to support farmers.
“The third measure is for emergencies: we have asked ID Food and Bulog to make purchases. The value is reportedly Rp30 billion; that is not a problem. Bulog and ID Food are capable. We are asking them to act starting now,” Amran said.
He stressed that emergency purchases were needed while the government built a more integrated livestock system. The short-term measure is expected to help farmers market their output before purchasing through government programmes and the processing industry operates more effectively.
The government is also discussing arrangements for reference prices and government purchase prices for eggs. Amran said the discussions include a ceiling retail price, taking into account the balance between the interests of farmers and consumers.
“Please pray for us; we are first working out the government reference price, or government purchase price, and then the ceiling retail price. This is still being discussed, and we are doing what is best for farmers. But remember, consumers must not be made to bear the cost,” Amran said.
The Agriculture Ministry hopes the three solutions will strengthen market certainty for egg farmers. The government also wants greater absorption of production to go hand in hand with pricing policies that protect farmers’ incomes while keeping eggs affordable for the public.