Ministry Of Agriculture Assessed To 'Turn Off' Independent Poultry Farmers: Farmers Lose Up To Rp5.4 Trillion

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Between)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) is asked to resolve a number of poultry issues in Indonesia, especially related to policies that are considered to have killed independent poultry farmers.

"There are issues about policy, especially about the narrative of partnerships that actually kill independent farmers," said Chairman of the Nusantara People's Farmers Association (PPRN) Alvino Antonio quoted from Antara, Tuesday, April 13.

He said that chicks (DOC) are controlled by large companies so that people's farmers are not able to compete and even until the price is controlled by them.

The early retirement policy that was enacted in 2016, he continued, was good enough to suppress the abundant supply of chickens in the market, but the policy was only temporal and again made independent poultry farmers suffer the last two years.

According to him, Kementan toxic not only as a provider of poultry meat, but also must protect independent poultry farmers. Therefore, there needs to be business protection in accordance with the mandate of government laws and regulations.

"Do not forget, the Ministry is not only obliged to guarantee chicken stocks, but there is an obligation to provide protection to independent farmers. Protect us, don't be a featherweight boxer versus a heavyweight boxer. That's not going to be fair," Alvino said.

Therefore, it asked the Ministry to resolve a number of poultry issues in Indonesia with its demands, among others, the stabilization of poultry to the maximum related to the supply of live birds, feed, and chicks (DOC), supported by valid data with strict supervision and sanctions against those who ignore government policies in accordance with their authority.

In addition, he added, the Ministry was also asked to reimburse independent farmers for the period 2019 and 2020 amounting to Rp5.4 trillion as a result of established policies.

Director of Livestock Breeding and Production Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health Kementan Sugiyono said it accepted and listened to the memorandum of objection submitted by independent poultry farmers.

"First we will review and then deliver to the Minister," he said when receiving the PPRN delivered a memorandum of objection in Building C, Ministry of Agriculture, Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Director of Veterinary Public Health Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health Syamsul Ma'arif added that his party has done its utmost to fix the problem of poultry in Indonesia.

"Our toxic (Kementan) maintain availability, meat stocks are safe. Broiler cultivation problem there should be facilities upstream and downstream. We need to organize downstream, prepare RPH (slaughterhouse) and cold storage," he said.