Coordinating Minister Zulhas Minta Bulog to Release Corn Supply to Stabilize Livestock Feed Prices

Coordinating Minister for Food and Agriculture Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food and Agriculture Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) asked Perum Bulog to immediately release part of the hundreds of thousands of tons of government corn reserves at subsidized prices to the center of egg farmers to reduce feed costs.

When reviewing the price and supply of food together with Trade Minister Budi Santoso at the Palmerah Market, Jakarta, Wednesday, Zulhas immediately called and communicated with the President Director of Perum Bulog Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani to accelerate the release of the corn stock.

"We were quick (to respond), immediately the increase in feed prices, I called Bulog to immediately release the Bulog corn reserves, hundreds of thousands of tons, at subsidized prices to the centers of egg farmers," said Zulhas as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 13.

He said the step needed to be taken immediately because egg farmers were facing pressure from two sides, namely the price of eggs at the farmer level which fell and the price of feed which rose.

He said that the price of eggs at the level of farmers, which is usually in the range of Rp. 23 thousand per kilogram (kg), has now dropped to around Rp. 20 thousand per kg.

"It has to be two, the price at the farmer level is usually Rp. 23 thousand per kg, now they accept Rp. 20 thousand per kg, so they lose. But the corn is up, the feed price is up," he said.

According to him, the release of government corn reserves is expected to stabilize corn prices so that farmers do not buy feed at high prices.

Thus, the government can maintain the balance of prices so that they do not burden consumers too much but still protect the sustainability of the farmers' business.

The price of eggs at the Palmerah Market was observed at around Rp27 thousand per kg, lower than the highest retail price (HET) of around Rp30 thousand per kg.

He assessed that the price of eggs was too low to be detrimental to farmers, although on the other hand, the public benefited from cheaper prices.

"HET is not too heavy for consumers, but the farmers do not close. If it is too cheap, the farmers will close, of course consumers are happy with the cheap price, this is what we have to take care of," said Zulhas.

Based on data from the Ministry of Trade's Market and Basic Needs Monitoring System (SP2KP) on May 12, 2026, the national average price of broiler eggs was recorded at Rp. 28,354 per kg or down 0.18 percent from the previous day.

In addition to asking Bulog to release corn, Zulhas also asked the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to increase the use of eggs in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program to help absorb the supply of eggs.

According to him, the demand from the MBG program can help raise the price of eggs to return to a reasonable level for farmers.

"If BGN only uses eggs for two days, it means 48 million eggs for one shopping. If it is twice a week, it can return to the HET price," he said.

He said that food stocks in general are currently safe, including rice, eggs, chickens, and chili peppers, whose prices have started to decline.

SP2KP data also recorded the national price of curly red chilies on May 12, 2026 at the level of IDR 45,830 per kg, large red chilies at IDR 48,768 per kg, and red cayenne pepper at IDR 63,252 per kg.

Based on monitoring at the Palmerah Market, the price of curly red chilies is at Rp. 44,000 per kg, large red chilies are around Rp. 47 thousand per kg, and red cayenne pepper is Rp. 65,000 per kg.

"Overall, food is safe, the stock can be seen as excessive. But we want to be safe for farmers, safe for the community, safe for farmers," said Zulhas.

During the market review, Zulhas together with Trade Minister Budi Santoso greeted and discussed with several traders and residents at Palmerah Market.

The two also distributed cooking oil and cash assistance to a number of residents in the market area.