Minister Amran Signs Regulation Requiring Free Nutritious Meals Programme to Absorb Farmers' Eggs
Minister of Agriculture and Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Amran Sulaiman, has confirmed that the technical guidelines requiring the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme to absorb eggs from farmers have been issued.
Amran said the regulation was signed by him after farmers staged demonstrations. According to him, the absorption requirement is necessary to help address the slump in egg prices at the farm level.
“I have signed it, it has been issued. That is why it was issued that very day; as soon as the first demonstration took place, I signed it immediately that same day,” Amran said during a press conference at his office in Jakarta on Thursday (13/8/2026).
Previously, Amran highlighted the decline in farm-gate egg prices in Surabaya. One of the causes, he said, was that the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), or MBG kitchens, in the region had not purchased eggs from farmers at the price set by the government.
“In Surabaya, why did prices fall? One of the contributing factors is that the MBG’s SPPG did not buy eggs from farmers at the price determined by the government. Not a single one bought eggs in Surabaya,” he said.
The policy is in line with Circular Letter of the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Number 14 of 2026 concerning the Optimisation of Poultry Product Purchases in the Implementation of the MBG Programme. The regulation, issued on 12 August 2026, directs SPPGs to prioritise the purchase of poultry products, including commercial chicken eggs, from micro, small and medium-scale farmers as well as farmer cooperatives and local businesses.
Under the circular, SPPGs are also required to carry out collective absorption if there is a production surplus in poultry production centre regions. Purchases must be made at a fair and reasonable price for farmers, at least in accordance with the Purchase Reference Price (HAP) issued by Bapanas.
Nevertheless, Amran stressed that egg absorption by the MBG is not the government’s only measure to save farmers. The government will also reduce feed costs and monitor importers so that they do not disrupt domestic prices.
“The first is that feed prices must fall; the SPHP feed was discontinued yesterday. The second is that importers must not play games; I will revoke their permits. If there is a criminal element, we will send it… we have already sent it to the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit for examination. It is not allowed; imagine, you want to hurt 3.8 million farmers,” Amran asserted.
He added that the government has also requested that egg purchases for MBG needs be made directly from farmers to the SPPGs.
“Then the egg price must follow the government’s purchase reference price (HAP), directly to the SPPG. It is already direct from the farmers; everyone has agreed, everyone is happy and expressed their gratitude yesterday,” he said.
With the issuance of the regulation, Amran confirmed that SPPGs will begin absorbing eggs from farmers in accordance with government provisions.
“It is done, it is done,” he stressed.