By: Doni Zulfikar )*
Integrated chicken downstreaming is a key, relevant and realistic strategy for achieving national protein self-sufficiency. Amidst the increasing public demand for nutrition, particularly animal protein, the poultry sector holds a strategic position because chicken meat and eggs are the most affordable, easily distributed, and widely accepted sources of protein. With an integrated downstreaming approach from upstream to downstream, the national chicken industry can not only meet domestic demand but also strengthen food independence and national economic resilience.
The poultry sector has often faced classic challenges such as fluctuating feed prices, dependence on imported raw materials, uneven distribution, and inequality between small-scale farmers and large-scale industry players. Integrated chicken downstreaming offers a structural solution to address these issues. Integration encompasses the entire value chain, from breeding, feeding, cultivation, poultry slaughterhouses (RPU), product processing, to distribution and marketing. This system can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and allow the added value of chicken products to be more widely enjoyed by domestic businesses.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that integrated chicken downstreaming is a proactive measure by the government to ensure a safe, sustainable, equitable supply of chicken meat and eggs, in line with increasing national demand, particularly to support the Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG).
From the upstream side, strengthening the breeding and feed industry is the main foundation for downstreaming. Reliance on imported corn, soybean meal, and grand parent stock (GPS) has been a weakness in protein self-sufficiency. Through an integrated downstreaming policy, the government can encourage increased local corn production, diversify alternative feed ingredients, and develop national breeding technology. This step will not only reduce chicken production costs but also create new jobs in the agricultural and agro-industry sectors, thus creating a multiplier effect for the national economy.
At the cultivation stage, integration enables increased productivity for smallholder farmers. Through fair and transparent partnerships, smallholder farmers can gain access to superior seeds, quality feed, technical assistance, and market certainty. Inclusively designed downstreaming will reduce trade practices that disadvantage farmers and strengthen their position in the supply chain. When smallholder farmers are empowered, national protein production becomes more stable and sustainable.
On the downstream side, the development of modern poultry slaughterhouses and processing industries is key to increasing added value. Chicken products are no longer limited to fresh carcasses, but are evolving into high-value processed products such as frozen chicken, nuggets, sausages, and ready-to-eat meals. This downstreaming is crucial for extending product shelf life, maintaining food safety, and meeting national and international quality standards. Thus, chicken, as a protein commodity, not only supports domestic consumption but also has the potential to become a competitive export commodity.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Lampung Province, Rahmat Mirzani Djausal, stated that his administration had broken ground for the 2026 Integrated Chicken Downstream Development Program. This activity is part of the National Strategic Program (PSN) initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure the availability of quality and affordable animal protein. Lampung was selected as one of six provinces in Indonesia to implement this integrated downstreaming project in the first phase (Phase I).
Integrated chicken downstreaming also plays a significant role in equitable access to protein for the community. With an efficient and controlled distribution system, chicken and egg supplies can reach remote areas at more stable prices. This has a direct impact on improving public nutrition, especially for children and vulnerable groups, which ultimately supports the improvement of Indonesia’s human resources. Protein self-sufficiency is not just about production, but also about equitable access and sustainable consumption.
From a national resilience perspective, animal protein independence has a strategic dimension. Dependence on food imports poses a high risk of global turmoil, geopolitical conflict, and climate change. Integrated chicken downstreaming strengthens the resilience of the national food system by relying on domestic resources, local technology, and a large domestic market. Thus, Indonesia is less susceptible to global crises and is able to maintain socio-economic stability.
The success of integrated chicken downstreaming certainly requiresA strong synergy between the government, business, academia, and the public is crucial. The government plays a role in preparing favorable regulations, supporting infrastructure, and investment incentives. Businesses are encouraged to develop technology, expand production capacity, and build equitable partnerships. Meanwhile, research and innovation play a crucial role in improving the efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness of the national poultry industry.
Integrated chicken downstreaming is not merely an economic agenda, but a major strategy towards achieving sovereign and sustainable national protein self-sufficiency. By maximizing the potential of domestic poultry, Indonesia can meet the nutritional needs of its people, improve the welfare of livestock farmers, strengthen the national industry, and affirm food independence as a crucial pillar of development. This is the real path towards a healthy, strong, and sovereign Indonesia in the field of animal protein.
)* National Nutrition Observer
