To Stabilise Prices at the Farmer Level, Zulhas Asks BGN to Increase Egg Absorption in the MBG Programme

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, known as Zulhas, is pushing the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to increase the use of eggs in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme to help stabilise egg prices at the farmer level. “Now, to ensure prices align with the highest retail price (HET) for eggs, we are asking BGN. Because if BGN uses eggs for just two days, that means 48 million eggs in one purchase,” Zulhas said in Jakarta on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. According to him, increasing egg absorption through the MBG programme is necessary because the current egg supply is excessive, while prices at the farmer level are declining. Zulhas explained that egg prices at Palmerah Market are around Rp27,000 per kilogram, lower than the HET of around Rp30,000 per kg. Meanwhile, the price received by farmers is said to have dropped to around Rp20,000 per kg, from a normal condition of around Rp23,000 per kg. “The supply is abundant, demand is low, so we are asking BGN to use eggs for two days (in a week),” he stated. Zulhas said the government must maintain balance so that egg prices remain affordable for the public but do not harm farmers. “The HET is not too burdensome for consumers, but farmers won’t go out of business. If it’s too cheap, farmers will shut down,” Zulhas said. During a market inspection, Zulhas then directly called the Head of BGN, Dadan Hindayana, to request an increase in egg use in the MBG menu. “Mr Dadan, egg prices are below HET. There is a request from layer farmers, BGN should use eggs first for the next few days so that the layer farmers can smile,” Zulhas said. “If two days this week (using eggs), next week it will already be stable,” he added.