Ramadan always brings changes in the supply of daily needs in Indonesia, including in Biak, Papua. Ramadan egg supply in Biak often depends on farmers in other islands, increasing the fear of short supply during the festivity.
During Ramadan, everyone wants to have breakfast with special meals, different from what is usually served daily. There is always a special menu for the holy month. Then by the end of Ramadan, everyone celebrates Ied al-Fitr. Of course, there is a big feast in every house.
Everyone looks for the best ingredients for the big day. With the increasing demand, there is always the fear of short supply. After all, it is a special celebration with high expectations of a feast.
Fulfilling Chicken Eggs Demand in Biak
As part of the preparation to welcome Ramadan and Ied al-Fitr, The Agriculture and Food Security Service Department of Biak Numfor Regency succeeds in keeping egg supplies in the region. It is a little bit different from the previous years. For this year, the department ensures the local egg farmers in Biak Numfor can fulfill the local demands.
Eggs are among the most sought necessities, especially during holidays and religious celebrations. Of course, Ramadan and Ied al-Fitr always increase the demand in the market. In Papua, there is a concern about enough egg supplies in the market throughout Ramadan and Ied al-Fitr.
Made Suaryadana, the head of the department, gave his statement related to egg supply in Biak Numfor. He said around 70 local egg farmers will supply the entire egg demand in Biak Numfor for Ramadan and the upcoming Ied al-Fitr. These egg farmers are local Papuan people who have taken training and assistance from the local government.
As a result of this farming training and assistance, Biak Numfor no longer relies on egg supplies from outside the island. The local farmers have successfully raised their chickens and produced eggs. Based on the latest data from the Agriculture Department, Biak Numfor currently has an egg surplus. This is the result of those successful local egg farmers.
Made Suaryadana convinced that it has been quite some time since the local egg farmers are able to cover the demands for the markets of Biak and Supiori. So, they should be able to keep up with the increasing demand in the upcoming festivities.
Egg Farmers Preparing for Ramadan
Samparisna Kbarek is a good example of one of the successful egg farmers in Biak Numfor. According to him, the daily production from his egg farm could reach between 450 and 550 eggs. At such a rate, it is not surprising that the daily production from all egg farmers in Biak Numfor has already passed the daily demands in the local markets.
Meanwhile, the egg price is still relatively normal up until this day. Samparisna Kbarek said he sells his eggs between 62 and 65 thousand rupiahs per rack. It depends on the size of the eggs. The Agriculture Department reported that egg prices in the Biak Numfor market are between 62 and 75 thousand rupiahs per rack.
Samparisna Kbarek already has some loyal customers. So he does not worry about selling his produce.
Papuan people can learn these skills through training and assistance from the Agriculture and Food Security Service Department. Samparisna Kbarek started from zero. He has a Master’s degree in law and learn everything about egg farming through this training. Now he runs his egg farm, and it benefits him daily.
The empowerment of the Papuan people applies in different parts of the island. The local government teaches the Papuan people new skills to improve their lives. With the positive progress of this program, the Ramadan egg supply no longer becomes a problem in Papua.
