Egg Prices Rise, DKI KPKP Office Calls It Affected By The Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic

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JAKARTA - The Head of the DKI Jakarta Food, Maritime, and Agriculture Security Agency (KPKP), Suharini Eliawati, revealed the cause of the increase in the price of chicken eggs in a number of areas, including the capital city.

Suharini explained that the price increase for broiler eggs had increased significantly since the beginning of the third week of August 2022. The increase in the price of one of these food commodities, said Suharini, could not be separated from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The reason for the increase in the price of broiler eggs cannot be separated from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which has disrupted supply and demand," said Suharini in a statement, Thursday, August 25.

Viewed on the infopangan.jakarta.go.id website, the price of chicken eggs in the Jakarta market currently reaches Rp. 31,000 per kilogram.

Suharini explained that during the last two years during the pandemic, egg prices were very low due to restrictions on community activities so that the need for eggs in hotels, restaurants and cafes was greatly reduced.

Meanwhile, the price of other feeds rose significantly. Thus, farmers suffer losses because their income is not sufficient to meet their daily needs. Therefore, farmers balance demand and egg production.

"To maintain a balance between demand and egg production, breeders reduce the population of chicken breeds by 30 percent. And breeders also do not replant chicken seeds," said Suharini.

Until finally community activities began to recover with the easing of COVID-19 cases, the demand for eggs has increased, ranging from culinary businesses to providing social assistance. However, the supply of eggs by farmers has not met the number of needs.

"The supply of eggs at the farmer level has not been able to keep up with the needs of consumers due to limited production due to population reduction," he explained.