Zulhas Suddenly Calls BGN Head During Surprise Inspection at Palmerah Market, What's Going On?

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) suddenly telephoned the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, during a surprise inspection (sidak) at Palmerah Market in Jakarta. The call came after Zulhas found that chicken egg prices had dropped below the Reference Selling Price (HAP) and were being complained about by farmers.

During the inspection, Zulhas revealed that current egg prices are at Rp27,000 per kilogram (kg), lower than the usual HAP range of Rp28,000-Rp30,000 per kg. This situation is pressuring farmers as selling prices at the farm level have also fallen, while feed costs are rising.

“Eggs are a bit too cheap. Usually the HAP is Rp28,000-Rp30,000. Just now the price was Rp27,000 per kg,” said Zulhas when met at Palmerah Market, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (13/5/2026).

He explained that the selling price received by farmers is now as low as around Rp20,000 per kg, down from the usual Rp23,000 per kg.

“Well, we must keep it balanced. Don’t let some farmers complain. They’re hit twice. The price at the farm level is usually Rp23,000 (per kg) that they receive, now some receive Rp20,000 (per kg). But maize is up, feed prices are up,” he stated.

After explaining the situation, Zulhas immediately took out his phone and called BGN Head Dadan Hindayana. He requested that the MBG programme menu use more eggs in the coming days to absorb the excess supply in the market.

“Well, then the price can match the HAP, we ask BGN… I’m about to call the BGN Head now. Because if BGN uses eggs for just two days, that’s 48 million eggs, one purchase. So if twice a week, it can return to HAP price,” said Zulhas before making the call.

In the phone conversation, Zulhas directly conveyed the falling chicken egg prices.

“Assalamualaikum, Pak Dadan. This is the one in charge,” Zulhas opened the conversation.

“The egg price here is below HAP. There’s a request from the layer farmers. BGN should use eggs for the next few days, Pak (for the MBG menu), so it can match HAP,” he continued.

Dadan responded briefly. “Yes, encourage it,” he replied.

Zulhas then asked for support again to help farmers stay afloat.

“Encourage it, please help, Pak. So the layer farmers can keep smiling,” said Zulhas.

“Yes, ready,” answered Dadan.

“Good. Thank you, Pak Dadan,” Zulhas concluded.

According to him, demand from the MBG programme greatly affects egg prices in the market due to its large scale. Therefore, changes in the programme’s menu can influence the ups and downs of certain food commodity prices.

“This is because the price is greatly influenced, right. BGN can make it go up or down. Because the demand is very large,” he said.

When asked if the current egg absorption for MBG is low, leading to excess stock, Zulhas said the MBG menu rotates between eggs, fish, meat, and chicken, according to needs and school requests.

“Maybe it’s rotating. Maybe once a week. There are also catfish, some order meat, some order chicken,” he said.

However, for the time being, the government proposes increasing egg usage to maintain price stability at the farmer level.

“But if there’s an emergency like this. Not an emergency, but for stabilisation like this, we propose twice a week (using egg menu). If twice this week, next week it will be fine,” he concluded.