POULTRYINDONESIA, Jakarta – The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture of Indonesia, is strengthening its strategy for layer feed self-sufficiency as a foundation for the sustainability of the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program. This step is considered crucial, given that eggs are a highly nutritious source of animal protein, easy to process, and accessible to all segments of society.
The issue became the main highlight of the Webinar Feed Series #6, themed “Strengthening Layer Feed Self-Sufficiency to Support the Free Nutritious Meals Program,” held on Thursday (5/3/2026). More than 1,000 participants joined the online forum, including academics, livestock practitioners, and policymakers.
During the event, Tri Melasari, Director of Feed at the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health, emphasized that the MBG program is not merely about food provision but represents an investment in the quality of future generations.
“This program is a long-term strategic investment to improve the quality of the nation’s future generations, prevent stunting, and address malnutrition in order to achieve Indonesia Gold 2045,” she stated.
She also reminded participants that the layer industry’s dependence on feed components remains very high, accounting for 60–70 percent of total production costs, including imported raw materials such as soybean meal and local ingredients like corn.
“Strengthening feed self-sufficiency is not only an economic issue but also part of the effort to achieve national food sovereignty,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, Hary Suhada, Director of Breeding and Livestock Production at the Ministry of Agriculture, explained that the development of the livestock and animal health sector is directed toward three main pillars: increasing productivity, achieving animal protein self-sufficiency, and strengthening the animal health system.
“The government is also paying significant attention to controlling infectious diseases, developing technology-based livestock production zones, improving the quality of animal-origin food that is safe, healthy, intact, and halal (ASUH), and empowering smallholder farmers,” he said.
Hary added that egg demand is projected to continue increasing as the MBG program progresses, although supply is still expected to remain in surplus until 2026. To reduce distribution imbalances—currently concentrated on Java—the government is actively encouraging the development of production centers outside Java.
From an academic perspective, Idat G. Permana of the IPB University Faculty of Animal Science highlighted the vital role of the poultry sector in national food security. He explained that feed is a determining factor in successful egg production.
“Feed formulated to properly meet livestock nutritional requirements contributes about 60–70 percent of total production costs. Its quality and nutritional balance directly influence chicken productivity, egg quality, feed conversion efficiency, and overall animal health,” he explained.
Similar insights were shared by poultry practitioner Asep Saipul Irawan, who has been running a layer farming business since 2010 and currently manages around 20,000 laying hens. For Asep, optimal feed management is the key to sustaining poultry farming operations.
“We always maintain feed quality, ensure timely feeding schedules, and guarantee consistent access to drinking water. With such management, we can maintain both productivity and egg quality,” he said.
He emphasized that feed efficiency is a decisive factor, especially for smallholder farmers who face increasing pressure from rising production costs.
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