Egg Prices Plunge in Magetan, Deputy Head of BGN Urges East Java SPPG to Boost Absorption

The Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for Public Communication and Investigation, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, has stated that she has instructed all Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) in East Java to strengthen the use of egg-based menus in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme to aid in absorbing local farmers’ produce. This responds to a peaceful protest by layer chicken farmers in Magetan against the sharp drop in egg prices at the farm level. BGN, she said, understands the pressures faced by farmers due to high production costs and weak selling prices for eggs. “We have instructed all SPPG in East Java to optimise the use of eggs in MBG menus, thereby helping to increase absorption of eggs from farmers and maintain price stability at the producer level,” Nanik said in Jakarta on Friday (8/5/2026). Nanik explained that, based on coordination with the Magetan District MBG Task Force, the use of egg menus in SPPG is planned to be increased to up to three times a week. Previously, egg menus in MBG operations were provided twice a week. “So to raise egg prices, the MBG programme will use egg menus three times a week. The MBG programme is indeed designed not only to fulfil community nutrition but also to provide economic impacts for local businesses, including layer chicken farmers,” she said. She added that SPPG in Magetan District have so far used supplies of eggs from local farmers and have not sourced from outside the area. This step is seen as capable of helping the economic circulation of the local community. Previously, on Wednesday (6/5/2026), a number of layer chicken farmers in Magetan held a peaceful protest in the Magetan Town Square area and around the Grand Mosque of Baitussalam. In the protest, the farmers distributed around three tonnes of eggs for free to the public as a symbol of protest against the plummeting egg prices. The farmers stated that the current egg price at the coop level is in the range of Rp 22,000 to Rp 22,800 per kilogram, far below the government’s Reference Purchase Price (HAP) of Rp 26,500 per kilogram. They also highlighted the high price of animal feed and overproduction conditions that make it difficult for egg produce to be maximally absorbed by the market.