Bapanas states that the corn feed SPHP programme targets 5,000 farmers

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) states that the Corn Feed Supply and Price Stabilisation Programme (SPHP) is being rolled out targeting around 5,000 livestock farmers to maintain the availability of supply and stability of national animal feed prices. “The total allocation for distribution (SPHP corn) amounts to 242,000 tonnes and can run until the end of 2026,” said Bapanas SPHP Director Maino Dwi Hartono in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday. He explained that the 5,000 farmers, consisting of micro, small, and medium scales with a total poultry population of 53 million birds in 26 provinces, are the targets of the corn feed SPHP throughout 2026. Maino said the list of recipient farmers is based on Ministerial Decree of Agriculture Number 3540/KPTS/HK.150/F/03/2026 dated 31 March 2026. “This is quite significant compared to the previous year, which only covered 17 provinces. This means other provinces that may not have been informed or applied previously are now accommodated in the Ministry of Agriculture’s decree for 2026,” Maino explained. “The target is until the end of 2026 because we are considering small farmers. This indeed depends on their financial capacity to procure or purchase corn, which is also quite limited,” added Bapanas Director Maino. For this stage, it is estimated that 213,100 tonnes will be distributed, leaving a remaining allocation of around 28,800 tonnes. The remaining allocation is to anticipate additional proposals from new farmers, for example, pig farmers who are still in the staggered application process from the district/city level. Meanwhile, the corn feed price set by Bapanas is Rp5,000 per kg for pickup at Bulog warehouses and a maximum of Rp5,500 per kg at the farmer level. The distribution of SPHP corn feed is carried out through cooperatives or associations to registered members under the Minister of Agriculture’s decree. Distribution to major corn production areas must consider the peak harvest period, corn prices at the farmer level, and at the livestock farmer level, to avoid negative implications on local corn prices that are too low for farmers in the area. According to Bapanas monitoring, corn prices at the livestock farmer level have reached Rp6,758 per kg, or 16.52 per cent above the Consumer Sales Reference Price (HAP). Fluctuations in animal feed prices must be controlled by the government because they can spill over to the prices of layer hen eggs and broiler chicken meat. Bapanas has ensured that the assignment to Perum Bulog has been issued. In addition, verification of SPHP corn recipient data has been completed in collaboration with the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health of the Ministry of Agriculture. “Along with the rising corn prices at the livestock farmer level and the peak harvest possibly already finishing in some areas, Bapanas has tasked Bulog with distributing SPHP corn, and hopefully, it can be distributed soon this week,” he said.