To Stabilise Feed Prices, Zulhas Asks Bulog to Release Subsidised Corn Stocks

Coordinating Minister (Menko) for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) has requested Perum Bulog to promptly release a portion of the government’s hundreds of thousands of tonnes of corn reserves at subsidised prices to egg farming centres in order to suppress livestock feed costs. Zulhas directly telephoned and communicated with the President Director of Perum Bulog, Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, to accelerate the release of the corn stocks. “We responded quickly earlier; regarding the rise in feed prices, I telephoned Bulog to immediately release its corn reserves, hundreds of thousands of tonnes, at subsidised prices to egg farming centres,” Zulhas said while inspecting food prices and supplies alongside Trade Minister Budi Santoso at Palmerah Market, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. He explained that the measure needs to be implemented urgently because egg farmers are facing pressures from two sides: declining egg prices at the farm level and rising feed prices. It is known that egg prices at the farm level, usually around Rp23,000 per kilogram (kg), have now fallen to about Rp20,000 per kg. “They are hit from two sides; the price at the farm level is usually Rp23,000 per kg, now some receive Rp20,000 per kg, so they are at a loss. But the corn price has risen, the feed price has risen,” he stated. According to him, the release of government corn reserves is expected to stabilise corn prices so that farmers do not have to buy feed at high prices. Thus, the government can maintain price balance to avoid overburdening consumers while still protecting the sustainability of farmers’ businesses. Egg prices at Palmerah Market were observed at around Rp27,000 per kg, lower than the highest retail price (HET) of about Rp30,000 per kg. He assessed that egg prices that are too low can harm farmers, although on the other hand, the public benefits from cheaper prices. “The HET ensures consumers are not too burdened, but farmers don’t go out of business. If it’s too cheap, farmers will shut down; of course, consumers are happy with low prices—this is what we must maintain,” Zulhas said. Based on data from the Market and Basic Needs Monitoring System (SP2KP) of the Ministry of Trade on 12 May 2026, the national average price of broiler eggs was recorded at Rp28,354 per kg, down 0.18 percent from the previous day.