POULTRYINDONESIA, Bogor The issue of Chicken Leg Quarter (CLQ) imports has resurfaced as a significant public debate following the signing of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between Indonesia and the United States. On one hand, the government asserts that trade openness is a constitutional commitment and a consequence of Indonesia’s membership in the global trading system. On the other hand, import policies have direct implications for the domestic poultry industry, which is currently striving to maintain national production continuity, price stability, and the livelihoods of independent smallholder farmers.

For context, CLQ refers to the leg portion of the chicken that is widely traded in international markets. Heri Irawan, Secretary General of the Association of Independent Indonesian Smallholder Farmers (PERMINDO), explained that within the framework of global trade—including World Trade Organization (WTO) principles—nations are indeed obligated to provide market access. However, simultaneously, every country has the right to protect its strategic domestic sectors through legitimate policy instruments in accordance with international rules.

“Before opening the import gates further, the fundamental question to answer is whether Indonesia truly needs additional chicken supply from abroad. We must look honestly at our domestic conditions first. If national production is capable of meeting demand, or is even in surplus, then imports are not an urgent necessity,” he explained on Tuesday (Feb 24).

Surplus Data and Market Reality

Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Indonesia’s broiler meat production volume in 2025 reached 4.28 million tons, while national consumption was estimated at approximately 3.92 million tons. This means Indonesia recorded a surplus of 358.57 thousand tons that year, continuing a long-standing trend of annual surpluses.

“A similar picture is seen in monthly data. In October 2025, for instance, production was estimated at 372,867 tons, while public demand was around 325,641 tons. A surplus of 47,226 tons in a single month is a strong indication that domestic supply is more than sufficient,” Heri added.

Despite the abundant supply, ironically, the price of live birds at the farm level often falls below the cost of production (HPP). This condition indicates that the primary issue facing the national poultry industry is not a lack of supply, but rather structural problems in trade governance, distribution, market absorption, and price formation mechanisms.

“Our problem isn’t a shortage of chickens; it’s about how that abundant production can be absorbed at a fair price for farmers. As long as the trade system remains unhealthy, imports have the potential to worsen price pressure at the producer level,” he said.

The Threat of Low-Priced Imports

In this context, Heri believes CLQ imports can hardly be positioned as a solution. Imported products generally enter at lower prices, influenced by the global market structure in their countries of origin, where chicken legs are treated as secondary commodities with relatively low selling value. When these products enter the domestic market, the impact is not just price competition at the consumer level, but also additional pressure on live bird prices for farmers who are already vulnerable due to high production costs.

According to him, this issue is closely tied to the meaning of food sovereignty. Food sovereignty is not merely about the availability of cheap products in the market, but the nation’s ability to meet its basic needs independently and sustainably. The national poultry industry is a strategic sector involving millions of stakeholders, particularly smallholder farmers and MSMEs (SMEs) across various regions.

“If the domestic production base weakens, we won’t just face short-term price issues, but also the risk of long-term dependence on imports. Food sovereignty means we are able to stand on the strength of our own production,” he asserted.

Strategic Alternatives to Imports

Heri added that the existing production surplus could actually become an opportunity if managed optimally. Strengthening domestic market absorption, developing downstream processing for local chicken products, and optimizing strategic infrastructure such as cold storage and a national buffer stock could be effective instruments to maintain price stability while increasing the added value of domestic production.

He argued that the state possesses various policy instruments to maintain market balance without relying on large-scale imports. Improving the domestic supply chain can ensure production is absorbed optimally, downstreaming can open new markets through value-added products, while strengthening price policies and cold-chain infrastructure can enhance sustainable market stability.

“Importing is not the only policy tool. Even in surplus conditions, imports can become a distorting factor if not controlled carefully. While imports are not inherently taboo, their application must be selective and based on real needs—for example, during supply disruptions or extreme fluctuations. In current surplus conditions, using imports as a stabilization instrument risks creating market distortions and weakening the foundations of national production,” he stated.

He emphasized that a sovereign nation is one capable of balancing global trade openness with the protection of its own production capacity. Indonesia has proven that national broiler production is not only large but has the potential for sustainable surpluses if managed correctly.

“The CLQ import issue is not just a trade issue; it is a test of the direction of national food policy—whether we strengthen domestic production or weaken it. Amid increasingly complex global dynamics—from supply chain uncertainty and international price pressures to shifting domestic economic conditions—strengthening national production is a step that is both rational and strategic. The main priority must remain the protection of national production and the welfare of smallholder farmers. Without that, food sovereignty will be nothing more than a slogan,” Heri concluded.

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