To Support Farmers, Ministry of Agriculture Asks BGN to Increase Chicken and Egg Menu in MBG

The existence of the MBG programme is precisely what can stabilise the prices of chicken meat and eggs in Indonesia, as before this programme, prices at the farmer level were highly fluctuating.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) has asked the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to increase the frequency of using chicken meat and eggs in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) menu to support the absorption of both commodities in Indonesia.

In a press conference at the Indonesian Government Communication Agency (Bakom) in Jakarta on Wednesday, the Director General of Livestock and Animal Health of Kementan, Agung Suganda, stated that chicken meat and egg commodities are in a surplus condition and have even been exported to several countries.

“The existence of the MBG programme is precisely what can stabilise the prices of chicken meat and eggs in Indonesia, as before this programme, prices at the farmer level were highly fluctuating,” said Agung Suganda.

Regarding this, he conveyed that Kementan has held a meeting with related associations, also attended by BGN representatives, to support the absorption of chicken meat and egg products from local farmers.

Not only that, Kementan has also sent a letter to the Deputy for Provision and Distribution of BGN, requesting that the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) carry out absorption of both commodities from farmers in their respective locations.

“Secondly, we also request that the frequency of the Nutritious Meals menu, especially for chicken meat and eggs, be increased. Not just twice a week, we ask that if necessary, it be every day to increase absorption,” he said.

Not only that, Kementan also requests that the prices used comply with the government’s reference prices. This step is taken because currently, the prices of eggs and live chickens at the farmer level have also fallen below the prices set by the government.

With the absorption of commodities by 28,390 SPPGs implementing the MBG programme, it is hoped that this will be able to increase absorption and stabilise the prices of both commodities.

“Currently, the position is still surplus; hopefully, if 30,000 SPPGs are operational, the hope is that they can absorb our chicken meat and egg production and not affect prices at the farmer level,” said Agung Suganda.