Indonesia ordered its poultry farmers to cull about 3 million chickens over a two-week period, starting Wednesday, June 26, to curb the fall in prices, as protesting farmers distributed thousands of live birds for free.

Indonesia produces more chicken than it consumes, and this puts pressure on prices. Chick farmers complained that livestock prices for several months were below the government’s minimum price and below cost.

Breeders increased chicken production to capitalize on expected growth in demand during the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holidays earlier this month. But the ministry of agriculture said demand was not as expected.

In response, the government ordered farmers to kill 68-week-old chickens over a two-week period until July 9, the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement. Sugiono, director of the livestock ministry, estimated that culling 3 million chickens would reduce the supply of chickens by 1.5 million per week.

In Yogyakarta, Java, where prices were especially low, protesting farmers distributed 5,000 chickens, saying prices had been falling for 10 months, despite a surge in demand for the Muslim fasting month.

According to the country's Ministry of Agriculture, the average price of live birds in Indonesia on Tuesday, June 25 was 20,216 rupees ($ 1.43) per kilogram, while the minimum government price was 18,000 rupees ($ 1.27) United States) per kilogram. If prices do not rise, the Ministry of Agriculture of Indonesia is ready to order more culling of birds.