Indonesia Tightens Poultry Breeding Controls to Protect Small Farmers

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture reinforces oversight of the distribution of layer chicken Day-Old Chick Final Stock (DOC FS) to ensure independent farmers have broader access to breeding stock. Under Agriculture Minister Regulation No. 10 of 2024, at least 98 percent of DOC FS must be distributed to external farmers, while internal use by breeding and integrated companies is capped at 2 percent.

Based on the release received by RRI VOI in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the policy is part of the government’s efforts to maintain a balanced structure in Indonesia’s layer poultry industry. The government considers proportional access to DOC essential to prevent production opportunities from becoming overly concentrated among breeding companies and vertically integrated businesses.

The regulation was among the key issues discussed during a series of poultry-sector coordination meetings held by the Ministry of Agriculture in August 2026. The measures follow directives from Agriculture Minister and National Food Agency (Bapanas) Head, Andi Amran Sulaiman to strengthen poultry-sector governance while protecting the sustainability of small-scale farmers.

“We care about businesses, and we care about small farmers. We are in the middle, ensuring that everyone can grow together,” Amran said at the National Poultry Coordination Meeting in Surabaya on August 11. He also warned that companies violating government regulations or taking advantage of farmers’ difficulties could face sanctions, including the revocation of their business licenses.

Director of Livestock Breeding and Production at the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health, Hary Suhada, said the DOC distribution policy was not unilaterally formulated by the government. “Agriculture Minister Regulation No. 10 of 2024 is the result of farmers’ aspirations conveyed through associations and cooperatives and discussed through public hearings,” Hary said.

Under the regulation, breeding companies and integrated businesses may use no more than 2 percent of their DOC FS output for internal needs, while at least 98 percent must go to external farmers. The composition is intended to ensure farmers have adequate access to breeding stock while preventing excessive control of layer production by companies integrated across the poultry supply chain.

Hary said reliable DOC distribution is crucial for the sustainability of farmers’ businesses and the stability of national egg production. The ministry is therefore strengthening data collection covering chicken populations, farm capacity, DOC production and distribution, as well as egg production and market absorption.

The government is also strengthening monitoring of DOC movements between regions and promoting the faster culling of layer chickens older than 90 weeks to maintain a balanced population. At the same time, the ministry is seeking stronger protections for small-scale farmers, including a proposal to place layer chicken farming on the negative investment list, while maintaining investment opportunities in other parts of the poultry supply chain.

The measures are being complemented by efforts to maintain feed availability, strengthen collective production and marketing through farmer associations and cooperatives, and expand market access. Through tighter DOC distribution and stronger data-based oversight, Indonesia aims to create a more balanced poultry industry in which small-scale farmers retain access to breeding stock and have greater opportunities to grow.