Free Nutritious Meal Programme Resumes, Chicken and Egg Prices Rise in Cimahi

The selling price of chicken meat and eggs at Pasar Atas Baru in Cimahi, West Java, has risen after previously falling when the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme was temporarily suspended during the school holidays. The price increase has drawn complaints from traders. As observed on Thursday (16/6/2026), the price of chicken meat has now reached Rp 35,000 per kilogramme, up from just Rp 26,000 per kg previously. Similarly, the price of chicken eggs, which was previously sold at Rp 22,000 per kg, has risen to Rp 26,000 per kg. “Yes, now the price of chicken has gone up again to Rp 35,000-36,000 per kg. When MBG was on holiday, the price dropped to Rp 25,000-26,000 per kg,” said Adang (53), a trader at Pasar Atas Baru, Cimahi. He does not know the exact cause of the price increase, but the change occurred after the MBG programme resumed operations. During the school holidays, when the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) kitchens supplying MBG meals were closed, chicken prices fell. That condition boosted his daily sales significantly. However, now that prices have risen again following MBG’s resumption, Dadang’s chicken sales have slumped, with purchases dominated only by regular customers. “During the two-week MBG break, prices dropped and, thank God, sales were very good. Now that prices have gone up again, sales are back to being quiet,” Dadang said. He confirmed that supply is more than sufficient and expressed hope for a government policy to normalise chicken prices, as the current high prices are unfavourable for traders. “I want prices to fall again because sales are better. When it’s expensive, sales are poor because buyers decrease,” Dadang said. Rian (40), an egg trader at the same market, shared a similar sentiment. He was forced to raise egg prices again after they had fallen for two weeks during the MBG suspension caused by the school holidays. “Two weeks ago, prices fell during the school holidays, now they have risen again from Rp 22,000 to Rp 26,000 per kg. People say it’s because of MBG, because indeed during the MBG break everything fell, and now it’s gone up again,” he said.