Indonesian Poultry Farmers Protest High Feed Costs as Live Bird Prices Drop Below Production Costs
Indonesian poultry producers face mounting financial pressure as live bird prices in local coops fall below the actual cost of production, driven by surging feed ingredients such as corn and imported soybean meal. On October 7, 2026, approximately 1,050 poultry farmers from regions including Central Java, East Java, West Java, and Lampung staged a demonstration in front of the MPR/DPR/DPD RI building in Jakarta, as reported by Tribratanews Polda Metro Jaya. The protest highlights a persistent economic squeeze where retail egg and live bird prices fail to offset soaring operational expenses.
Production Costs Outpace Farmgate Prices
Chicken farmers are currently absorbing heavy financial losses because market prices lag far behind baseline expenses. According to data reported by finance.detik.com, live broiler chickens (live birds) trade at Rp 21,000 to Rp 22,000 per kilogram at the coop level. Meanwhile, the actual cost of production (HPP) sits between Rp 23,000 and Rp 23,500 per kilogram.
Peternak Rakyat Mandiri Indonesia (Permindo) representative Asep Saepudin told finance.detik.com that starter feed prices for chicks aged 7 to 21 days have climbed past Rp 9,400 per kilogram, well above the normal range of Rp 8,000 to Rp 8,500 per kilogram. This steep rise in feed components—including corn priced above Rp 7,800 to Rp 8,000 per kilogram, alongside higher costs for rice bran (bekatul), imported soybean meal (SBM), and feed wheat—has left producers struggling to stay solvent.
Parliamentary Interventions and Questions Over Corn Self-Sufficiency
During a Hearing and Public Hearing (RDPU) at the parliamentary complex on October 7, 2026, lawmakers and agricultural representatives debated the underlying causes of the feed shortage, according to Kompas.id. House of Representatives (DPR) Commission IV Chair Siti Hediati Hariyadi (Titiek Soeharto) expressed concern over the situation, noting to Kompas that government claims of corn self-sufficiency clash with the reality on the ground.
Self-sufficiency means not only that there is enough corn, but that the price is good and that the farmers and livestock breeders are prosperous.
Titiek said, emphasizing that self-sufficiency must translate to affordable feed and fair producer welfare. Kompas.id reported that egg producers formally requested 223,000 tons of corn at a reasonable price through February 2027, alongside calls to evaluate import logistics for feed ingredients like soybean meal.
During the parliamentary meetings, 35 farmer representatives met with lawmakers to present their demands. According to Tribratanews Polda Metro Jaya, Police escorted the demonstration peacefully, allowing delegates to voice concerns regarding high production inputs and depressed farmgate returns directly to Commission IV leadership.
Kementan Outlines Strategies to Stabilize Broiler Meat Prices
The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) responded to the ongoing crisis by outlining mitigation strategies to stabilize prices. In an official statement to finance.detik.com on October 8, 2026, the Directorate of Breeding and Production noted that the government is monitoring supply chains and facilitating the absorption of excess production.
To address the live bird surplus, authorities are encouraging optimized processing at poultry slaughterhouses (RPHU) and utilizing cold storage facilities.
Kementan's prognostic data for September 2026 projects national broiler meat production to reach 4,71 juta ton.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Poultry Crisis
Why are poultry farmers operating at a loss in Indonesia?
Farmers face a negative margin because production costs (HPP) reach Rp 23,000 to Rp 23,500 per kilogram, while live birds sell at the coop for only Rp 21,000 to Rp 22,000 per kilogram, according to finance.detik.com.
What specific demands did farmers present to the DPR?
According to Kompas.id, egg producers asked for 223,000 tons of reasonably priced corn through February 2027, the absorption of eggs via government social programs, a review of raw material import regulations, and the return of 100 percent of layer farming rights to independent smallholders.
How is the government responding to the rising price of feed?
The Ministry of Agriculture stated that it is coordinating with the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Perum Bulog, and industry players to manage corn supply allocations, monitor distribution, and ensure fair pricing for broiler feed components.
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