Parliamentary Member: Free Nutritious Meal Programme Presents Golden Opportunity for Indonesian Livestock Sector

Jakarta – Singgih Januratmoko, Deputy Chair of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, has identified the government’s Free Nutritious Meal Programme (Makan Bergizi Gratis, or MBG) as a golden opportunity to strengthen the domestic poultry industry and improve livelihoods in the local livestock sector.

He stressed that the government must act decisively to prevent local industry from being outcompeted by global players. “The government cannot remain idle whilst local industry is decimated by global competitors. However, the support in question is not blind protectionism that closes the door to foreign investment. Smart support means creating a level playing field whilst strengthening local competitive advantage,” Januratmoko stated on Thursday, 26 February 2026.

Januratmoko highlighted that Indonesia’s poultry industry is entering a critical new phase. Late in 2025, two major global feed producers – De Heus Animal Nutrition of the Netherlands and CJ Feed and Care of South Korea – announced a merger. He characterised this acquisition not merely as a routine business transaction but as a significant structural shift.

The parliamentary member acknowledged that the domestic poultry industry faces substantial challenges. The Indonesian Poultry Breeding Association (GPPU) recorded that throughout 2025, the industry has been plagued by oversupply of Day Old Chickens (DOC), creating vulnerability to global competitors who can produce feed at substantially lower costs.

“If local farmers cannot achieve efficiency improvements, they will lose competition in their own market,” he warned.

Januratmoko called on the government to urgently address data management and industry governance issues. He noted that recurring annual fluctuations in live bird prices and DOC oversupply indicate weak upstream planning. Existing policies on DOC culling and the establishment of production cost baselines require evaluation and consistent implementation.

He advocated for expanded access to technology and financing for small-scale farmers, describing the government’s Free Nutritious Meal Programme as a pivotal opportunity. “If local farmers cannot supply the scale of production demanded by this programme, import gaps will open up significantly,” he cautioned.