Indonesia urges feed industry to stabilize prices to protect farmers

Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture has urged animal feed companies to refrain from raising prices amid rising production costs in many key centres, which has the potential to burden poultry farmers, both small and large-scale operations.

Agung Suganda, director general of Livestock and Animal Health at the ministry, said a series of precautionary measures are being rolled out. These include urging the industry to keep prices stable, mapping poultry farmers eligible to access government corn reserves, and facilitating dialogue between farmers and suppliers.

To ensure the stability of corn supply – the main raw material for poultry feed the ministry has begun coordinating with other government bodies, including the National Food Agency, to ensure smooth distribution and prevent hoarding that could harm farmers.

Suganda stressed that close collaboration between the central and local governments, livestock associations and stakeholders is essential to control prices, secure supply, and ensure the public can access poultry products at affordable prices.

He added that the initiative is part of the food self-sufficiency agenda of President Prabowo Subianto and Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman.

Economists noted that stabilizing feed prices will not only safeguard farmers’ incomes but also help contain food inflation, as this commodity accounts for a significant share of the consumer price index.

Keeping feed costs in check is therefore seen as a key step in ensuring food security and supporting the economy’s pursuit of sustainable growth under the Golden Indonesia 2045 programme.