People's Chicken Farmers Demand Full Involvement in MBG Programme
People’s Chicken Farmers Demand Full Involvement in MBG Programme
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The state of broiler and layer chicken farming in Indonesia is currently under severe pressure. Suwardi, Chairman of the Sejahtera Poultry Farmers Cooperative (KPUS) in Kendal Regency, assesses that the issues faced by farmers go beyond selling prices and encompass the entire management from upstream to downstream.
Farmers are currently in the most vulnerable position, having to contend with high production costs, unclear regulations, and high expectations for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, which is deemed not yet maximally impactful for people’s farmers.
“Why is the current situation such that I say farmers are not doing well? Because upstream, what role should the government play, and who will be protected, who will profit upstream?” said Suwardi at the AGRIMAT Seminar at NICE PIK on Friday (8/5/2026).
He views the MBG programme as a good initiative because it aims to improve community nutrition quality. However, the farmers have not been extensively involved in the programme’s supply chain. High expectations for the absorption of eggs and chickens from the MBG programme once made farmers optimistic.
“MBG is a noble programme. But because everyone says the MBG issue ends up what? The public is euphoric about it. Farmers today are hanging their hopes because of information that it will be absorbed and so on. What is the end result? Today, farmers like me are only getting false promises from the MBG programme,” he stated.
Therefore, the management mechanism of the MBG programme needs to be more transparent. He urges the government to ensure fair purchasing prices for farmers’ products, not entirely following market fluctuations that disadvantage small farmers.
He noted that people’s farmers have continued to fulfil their tax obligations amid challenging business conditions. Therefore, he hopes that state funds used in the MBG programme can also support the sustainability of domestic farmers’ businesses.
“The MBG should ensure that farmers who pay taxes can still survive. Don’t let them be exploited,” he said.
Furthermore, he warns that national food programmes should not become new business spaces only for certain groups. People’s farmers hope to be involved so that their welfare can improve.
Small farmers have the capacity to meet national production needs if given equal access and support. Therefore, he requests the government to prioritise empowering local farmers over opening opportunities for domination by large or foreign investors.
“Farmers must rise. Farmers must unite. Because only with our strength can we counter the capitalisms that are present, especially those partnering with foreign investors for cultivation,” he concluded.