Trade Minister Proposes Eggs, Chicken, and Fish for Food Aid Scheme

Jakarta - The government is opening up the possibility of changing the food aid scheme so that it does not only contain rice or Minyakita. In the future, food aid can be adjusted to suit the production conditions and prices of food commodities in the country, including eggs, fish, and chicken meat. Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the move is one of the government’s efforts to absorb excess production of food commodities while maintaining prices at the farmer and producer levels. He stated that eggs, which are currently experiencing a production surplus causing prices in several regions to fall, have now been pushed to be included in the free nutritious meal programme. “Yesterday there were several regions, especially in East Java, in Blitar, where the price of eggs fell. So we have coordinated with BGN (National Nutrition Agency) and with the new Head of BGN, that the SPPG (Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit) in that region is required to absorb eggs. So that the price can approach or match the HET (highest retail price),” Budi said during a press conference at his office in Jakarta. With this absorption, the government hopes the price of eggs will improve so that breeders can still earn a decent profit. “So that breeders will get a good price,” he said. Not only through the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit programme, the government is also preparing adjustments in the national food aid scheme. Budi emphasised that food aid could later be filled with commodities that are experiencing an excess supply in the market. “Secondly, food aid will also adjust. So for example, when the price of eggs is falling, food aid does not have to be Minyakita or rice, but can also be eggs. So this is in order to absorb our food products or our basic food ingredients, whose production is now increasing,” he explained. He revealed that national egg production is currently experiencing a surplus of around 12 per cent. This condition is considered positive for the livestock sector, provided it is accompanied by adequate absorption. “So egg production is now surplus by 12 per cent. This is good for breeders. And the absorption actually exists, we just need to manage the SPPG properly, so that eggs can be absorbed well,” said Budi. Furthermore, he emphasised that this absorption concept does not only apply to eggs. The government is also considering other food commodities that are experiencing price pressure due to oversupply. “Not only eggs. So basic food needs such as fish, for example, chicken. If the price of chicken meat falls below the HET, then we will also ask BGN to absorb it at the SPPG,” he said. With this scheme, the government hopes the food aid programme will not only help the beneficiary communities, but also become an instrument to maintain price stability and absorb the production of farmers, breeders, and fishermen in the country.