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Maluku Governor Hendrik Lewerissa, accompanied by his staff, received an audience with potential investors from PT Mitra Berlian Unggas (MBU), a national agribusiness company engaged in the production and distribution of chicken meat and eggs. The meeting took place at the Maluku Governor's Office in Ambon City, Maluku on Aug. 20, 2025.
The meeting, facilitated by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Maluku, discussed plans to develop an dual-purpose chicken farm, with integrated broiler and egg-laying chickens, in Maluku as part of the Maluku Province Food Security Development program that aims for food self-sufficiency and price stability.
Chicken egg and meat consumption in Maluku grew 3 to 5 percent annually from 2020 to 2025 according to PT MBA data. By 2025, egg demand is estimated to reach 275 million eggs or about 16,500 tons, while chicken meat consumption is projected to reach 23,750 tons per year.
However, more than 60 percent of the chicken egg and meat supply in Maluku still comes from outside the province, causing food prices in Maluku to be 15 to 25 percent higher than in other regions due to high logistics costs. Thus, investing in integrated chicken farming is believed to be a solution that reduces dependency on external supply while optimizing the potential of local feed supplies.
The MBU investment plan includes the development of commercial-scale dual-purpose chicken farm, a local feed mill, a direct distribution system to markets, hotels, restaurants, and catering businesses (HoReCa), as well as a partnership scheme with local farmers.
The targeted positive impacts include stabilizing chicken egg and meat prices in the market, increasing local farmers' incomes by 15 to 25 percent, employing more than 200 people, reducing logistics costs by up to 20 percent, and creating a potential chicken egg market of 80 million eggs per year.
The investment realization roadmap is set for 12 to 24 months, starting with a feasibility study and land acquisition for the first six months, feed mill and chicken coop construction from the sixth to 12th month, production testing and workforce recruitment from the 12th to 18th months, and reaching full commercial production from the 18th to 24th months.
Maluku Provincial Government spokesperson Kasrul Selang stated that the planned investment location is in Negeri Wakal, Leihitu District, Central Maluku Regency, Maluku, which is considered highly strategic due to its access to the area's main road, water reserves, adequate electricity, and full support from the local landowner.
"The governor is very open and ready to roll out the red carpet for investment in the food sector, as long as it prioritizes local labor, knowledge transfer, and environmental protection. All facilities within the provincial government's authority will be provided," Kasrul divulged.
He added that Governor Hendrik emphasized that the major program currently being implemented is to make Maluku beyond just a consumer region into a producer region. That includes improving local community welfare through job creation and strengthening the role of local farmers in the food sector supply chain.
"This investment is part of our grand strategy to build a just, prosperous, and competitive Maluku, starting from food security," he concluded.
