Chicken And Egg Prices Start To Rise, The Government Adjusts The MBG Menu

Illustration of free bergizi meals (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The government is moving quickly to anticipate the potential for food price fluctuations amid the increasing demand for raw materials for the free nutritious food program (MBG). Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik Sudaryati, revealed signs that price pressures are starting to appear in the commodity of chickens and eggs.

President Prabowo Subianto also gave directions so that the composition of the MBG menu adjusts to market conditions, especially ahead of Christmas and New Year (Nataru) and Ramadan, in order to keep the needs of the wider community fulfilled.

"The president ordered, ahead of Nataru and Lebaran, eggs for children can be reduced and beef or cyclone eggs are replaced," said Nanik at the Presidential Palace, Thursday, November 20.

Nanik explained that the MBG program requires a very large amount of food supply. In addition, the government needs to ensure that production remains stable so that demand from this program does not trigger a price spike in the market.

BGN has also coordinated across ministries and institutions to ensure the readiness of raw materials for the MBG program, including milk supply which has recently begun to be difficult to meet.

To overcome the problem of milk supply, the government has prepared a dairy farm development which is targeted to produce up to three million liters per day. This production is expected to be able to meet MBG's needs as well as national consumption.

"Immediately a cattle farm will be created that meets the needs of MBG and the community," explained Nanik.

In addition to cow's milk, the government has also prepared alternatives in the form of soybean milk production. For vegetable needs, the government will open up new land through coordination with the Ministry of ATR/BPN. Meanwhile, soybeans are one of the commodities that get special attention because MBG requires large volumes.

Nanik gave an example that one nutritional fulfillment service unit (SPPG) requires 200-300 kilograms of tofu or tempeh every day. Without adequate national soybean planting, this need is difficult to meet. If we don't plant our own soybeans, we will be in short supply," he said.

Nanik emphasized that all government steps are not just discourse, but are already in the implementation stage. The Ministry of Agriculture has mobilized programs to increase food production, including cooperating with Agrinas in the development of soybeans and other strategic commodities.

"Don't let price fluctuations occur in the community. Related to this, all must unite to support MBG in preparing raw materials," he concluded.