POULTRYINDONESIA, Jakarta — As the holy month of Ramadan begins, residents of Polewali Mandar Regency (Polman), West Sulawesi, are assured they can purchase chicken at stable prices. Field monitoring results show that chicken prices remain relatively under control, despite earlier reports of price increases.

Head of the Food Security Division at the Marine and Fisheries Office of Polewali Mandar Regency, Fitriani, emphasized that the recent increase is still within reasonable limits.

“There has been an increase, but it is still reasonable and below the Government Reference Price (HAP) set by the government,” she said on Wednesday (18/2/2026).

Together with the Industry and Trade Office and members of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police, she conducted a visit to Pasar Sentral Pekkabata. Fitriani explained that the current price of live chickens is around Rp70,000 per bird, with an average weight of 2.5 kilograms.

“The current market price per bird is Rp70,000, with an average weight of 2.5 kilograms. That means the price per kilogram is only around Rp28,000. This is not far from the government’s HAP of Rp25,000 per kilogram for live chickens at the producer or farmer level,” she explained.

This means that, in real terms, prices at the consumer level remain within a safe range and affordable for the public.

In terms of supply, consumers also need not worry, as chicken availability is sufficient and even tends to be abundant. Supply in Polewali Mandar is considered secure. In fact, traders are currently able to stock up to twice their usual volume.

“The price increase ahead of Ramadan is a seasonal phenomenon and still within reasonable limits due to high demand. There is a tradition of thanksgiving gatherings before Ramadan here, and people usually slaughter chickens. After two to three days, prices will stabilize again. Another increase may occur ahead of Eid,” she added.

Head of the Livestock and Animal Health Division at the Food Crops, Horticulture, and Livestock Office of West Sulawesi Province, Nur Kadar, stated that prices across the province remain under control.

“At the farmer level, prices range from Rp23,000–25,000 per kg, while at the consumer level they range from Rp70,000–75,000 for chickens weighing 2.5 kilograms. Meanwhile, chickens priced at Rp80,000 usually weigh around 3 kilograms,” he explained.

At the national level, Director General of Livestock and Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, Agung Suganda, assured that the government is present to protect consumers through direct monitoring of prices and supply. He emphasized that government policy aims to ensure consumers obtain food at affordable prices without harming business actors.

“In line with the Minister of Agriculture’s directive, we want to ensure the public obtains products that are safe, healthy, wholesome, and halal at affordable prices, while traders still receive reasonable margins,” Agung said at the Ministry of Agriculture office in Jakarta (18/2/2026).

Previously, Minister of Agriculture and Head of the National Food Agency, Andi Amran Sulaiman, stated that there is no reason for business actors to sell commodities above the prices set by the government.

“Our production is high, and our stocks are abundant. We have achieved food self-sufficiency in nine commodities, with only three remaining. Even those three still have ample stocks. So there must be no games,” Minister Amran said on Monday (16/2/2026).

Based on the food balance projection through April 2026, nine strategic commodities are recorded in a production surplus position. These include rice, consumption sugar, red chili, bird’s eye chili, corn, cooking oil, chicken meat, eggs, and shallots.

The Ministry of Agriculture emphasized that price monitoring will continue in collaboration with regional governments and business actors through Eid al-Fitr to ensure smooth distribution, stable prices, and continued access to safe and affordable animal protein for the public.

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