Livestock Association: Absorption of Chicken for MBG Programme Still Low

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme is considered not yet able to serve as the main pillar for stabilising chicken prices at the farmer level. This was stated by the General Chairman of the Independent Farmers’ Association of Indonesia (Permindo), Kusnan, in response to the plunge in chicken prices at the farm level. Kusnan said that although the MBG programme has good intentions to improve public nutrition, its contribution to chicken absorption is still limited. The absorption of chicken through the programme is also still relatively small compared to total national production. “However, compared to national chicken production, its absorption contribution is still relatively small, estimated to be below 5 percent of total national chicken production,” he continued. In the Jabodetabek region, the price of small-sized chicken at the coop level is currently around Rp 23,000–Rp 24,000 per kilogram, while jumbo-sized chicken is around Rp 19,000 per kilogram. Meanwhile, in Central Java, the price of large-sized chicken is even lower, at around Rp 18,500 per kilogram. The Production Cost Price (HPP) for small-sized chicken is recorded at Rp 25,000 per kilogram, while for large-sized chicken it is around Rp 22,000 per kilogram. According to Kusnan, with the still minimal absorption portion, the MBG programme has not been able to provide a significant impact on the stability of chicken prices at the farmer level. “Thus, structurally, this programme is not yet large enough to become the main pillar for stabilising chicken prices at the farmer level,” he explained. He added that to recover the currently pressured chicken prices, concrete steps from the government are needed, especially in increasing the absorption of domestic chicken production. “Optimising chicken absorption by government programmes, including MBG and animal protein-based food assistance, is one of the policies needed,” Kusnan emphasised.