Having Met Business Actors, Minister Of Trade Zulhas Sets A Target For Egg Prices To Return To Normal In Two Weeks

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Trade)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan has set a target for two weeks to overcome the problem of egg prices which are currently rising. He is optimistic that with this time limit, egg prices can return to normal.

"Hopefully at the latest two weeks it will be normal, the chicken eggs are ready, although later we will also add to the laying hens," he said at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday, August 25.

Zulhas as Zulkifli Hasan is familiar, said that the increase in egg prices in recent times was due to soaring demand for these commodities. Meanwhile, supply or production is inadequate.

One of the factors driving the high demand is social assistance (bansos) initiated by the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos). One of the social assistances given to the community is eggs, he said. With the provision of this social assistance, the demand for eggs soared in various regions.

"This is quite a lot of money (social assistance money) for three months, so there was a 5-day demand, suddenly the market lacked supply, so if there was a little supply, I was surprised, the price went up," he explained.

To overcome this increase in egg prices, Zulhas admitted that he had met representatives of egg entrepreneurs. Zulhas said, entrepreneurs asked that the social assistance distribution scheme be made periodically. Thus, production can meet demand.

"Earlier, the suggestion from the egg entrepreneur was that social assistance could not be done every month, because eggs can't be fast. You can't lay 5 eggs once, so if you can every month, so if you spend it there won't be a lot of sudden demand," he said.

Zulhas also explained the development of egg prices when he initially served as Minister of Trade. He said, at that time the price of eggs was at Rp. 32,000 per kilogram (kg). Then it had dropped to Rp. 25,000 per kg. Now, the average price of eggs is at IDR 31,000 per kg.

Furthermore, Zulhas admitted that he wanted to lower the price of eggs at the equilibrium point, which is Rp. 27,000 to Rp. 28,000 per kg. That way, Zulhas said it would not burden consumers and still be able to provide benefits to farmers.

"Regarding chicken eggs, chicken eggs are indeed Rp. 31,000 now, but when I sat down (as Minister of Trade) it was Rp. 32,000, now Rp. 31,000 has dropped to Rp. 26,000-Rp. 25,000. Indeed, the average price is Rp. 27,000-Rp. Rp. 28,000 is a profit for the breeder, but Rp. 31,000 is too expensive," he said.