POULTRYINDONESIA, Jakarta – Ramadan month, which started at the end of April 2020 and followed by Eid Al-Fitr in the following month, is a momentum that every businessman in the poultry sector in Indonesia to increase their profit. However, the poultry industry experienced ups and downs in recent months. Therefore they are pin-up hope to this month.

Every poultry farmer usually will make a serious preparation and detailed calculations, for instance, preparation of the cage, production facilities, and improving their cultivation management. They assume that increasing demand for chicken meat and eggs in Ramadan month, as well as Eid Al Fitr, must not be missed.

Based on Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), the total of public spending on food will be increased by around 15% from 70% to 85% of the total household budget.  But, this trend will decline as it approaches Eid Al Fitr because the food budget will reduce whereas the other budget, such as for clothing will increase.

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Those probabilities might usually come every year. However, this year’s condition will be much different. COVID-19 which already spread rapidly around the world, including Indonesia, gradually affect in all sector. This viral disease that categorized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) not only threatened Public Health but also destabilizes any countries economic stability. Based on ‘World Economic Outlook: The Great Lockdown’ report, published by International Monetary Fund (IMF), Indonesia’s economic growth will only reach 0,5% this year and also the lowest since the economic crisis from 1998 to 1999.

Based on Pinsar Indonesia website page, the laying egg price is stable, whereas the broiler price has decreased sharply. This triggered by many hotels, restaurants, tourism areas, traditional markets, and even supermarkets chose to close temporarily, because of a lack of buyers as a result of social distancing. This illustration proves that the poultry sector in the Ramadan and Eid this year faces serious challenges. With these various challenges, will this momentum become a source of profit or even increase poultry farmers’ loss? Sandi