East Java Chicken Farmers Protest Falling Egg Prices, Distribute Free Eggs at Council Building

Egg prices have fallen, prompting chicken farmers in East Java who are members of the Paguyuban Ternak Rakyat Indonesia (PATERAIN) to stage a demonstration at the East Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building. In addition to the protest, the farmers carried out a symbolic action by distributing free eggs to the public in response to the economic turmoil they are experiencing. Isbandi, a farmer from Bojonegoro, said that upstream egg prices have plunged to Rp16,000 from a previous range of Rp22,000 to Rp24,000. As a result of the price slump, Isbandi said farmers are losing up to Rp400,000 even though daily egg production reaches tens of kilograms. The decline in egg prices has been ongoing for the past three months. Isbandi revealed that the price drop is due to a high population of laying hens that is not matched by optimal absorption of the commodity. “Every day the average egg harvest is 57 to 60 kilograms, and we can lose up to Rp400,000,” he said. Meanwhile, PATERAIN Chairman Nur Muhammad Ali explained that chicken egg farmers in East Java are currently facing severe economic pressure. Not only are egg prices continuing to fall, but the price of animal feed has also risen. Ali added that the development of large-scale farms has contributed to an oversupply of laying hens, which is not balanced with the capacity of local farmers. “This condition has resulted in an increasing imbalance between supply and demand, causing egg prices to collapse and potentially threatening the sustainability of smallholder farming,” he said.