East Java Chicken Farmers Protest Falling Egg Prices, Distribute Free Eggs at Council Building
As egg prices plummet, egg farmers in East Java, organised under the Indonesian People’s Livestock Association (PATERAIN), held a demonstration at the East Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building. In addition to the protest, the farmers performed a symbolic gesture by distributing free eggs to the public in response to the economic instability they are experiencing.
Isbandi, an egg farmer from Bojendooro, noted that upstream egg prices have crashed to Rp16,000, down from the previous range of Rp22,000–Rp24,000. Due to these plunging selling prices, Isbandi stated that farmers are incurring losses of up to Rp400,000, even though daily egg production reaches dozens of kilograms.
This drop in egg prices has been occurring for the last three months. Isbandi revealed that the price decline is caused by a high population of laying hens that is not matched by maximum commodity absorption. “On average, we harvest 57–60 kilograms of eggs daily, and we can lose up to Rp400,000,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of PATERAIN, Nur Muhammad Ali, explained that layer farmers in East Java are currently facing heavy economic pressure. Not only are egg prices decreasing, but the price of animal feed is also reportedly rising. Ali also mentioned that the development of large-scale poultry farming has contributed to an oversupply of laying hens, creating an imbalance with the capacity of local farmers.
“This condition has resulted in an increasing imbalance between supply and demand, causing egg prices to fall, which potentially threatens the sustainability of smallholder farming,” he said.
Additionally, a community of duck farmers representing the National Duck Farmers Association (PPBN) has voiced protests regarding the collapse of duck egg prices. Similarly, layer farmers in the Indramayu region have complained about continuously increasing feed costs.
The Ministry of Agriculture has emphasised that smallholder farmers remain the top priority in the development of the national poultry industry. Layer farmers expressed their gratitude to the Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, for the government’s concern and support regarding the fate of farmers.
Following massive demonstrations by independent poultry farmers protesting the suffocating price of corn feed, the government has responded with the intervention of the SPHP corn programme. The government will release SPHP corn prices at Rp5,500 per kilogram, specifically aimed at supporting layer farmers.