The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) plans to import, in order to anticipate the need and availability of beef and buffalo during Ramadan and Idul Fitri 2021 or Lebaran. The Director General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nasrullah, explained that the national demand for beef / buffalo in 2021 will reach 696,956 tons with a per capita consumption calculation of 2.56 kg / year.
Meanwhile, the availability of local beef / buffalo is only 473,814 tons. So, the need and availability of national beef / buffalo throughout 2021 still requires as much as 223,142 tons. "The shortage will be met from imports in the form of feeder cattle, slaughtered feeders and imported beef or buffalo," Nasrullah said as reported by Antara, Tuesday (9/2/2021).
As for imports that will be carried out by the government, the details are in the form of feeder cattle as many as 502,000 heads. Then 430,000 heads of feeders were slaughtered or the equivalent of 96,367 tons and imported beef / buffalo as many as 185,500 tons. Nasrullah detailed that from the stock at the end of 2021, 58,725 tonnes would be obtained to meet the demand for meat from January to March in 2022. He also appealed to meat importers who have obtained recommendations and permits to immediately realize frozen beef imports in March, April and May 2021. This is to maintain stock availability and stabilize the price of beef / buffalo during Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr in 2021.
According to reports from importers as of January 28, 2021, there are still 6,998.69 tons of beef / buffalo meat in stock at private importers and BUMN, including 477.45 tons of offal. So, the importers must pay attention to the realization of income in order to increase warehouse stock, especially to face the fast and Eid 2021. In addition, because Indonesians generally prefer fresh beef, for the needs of fasting and Eid al-Fitr, importers are advised to provide imported chilled carcass pieces in the form of fresh chilled (chilled) which will be sold to the market in the form of fresh beef at a more affordable price.
Director of Veterinary Public Health Syamsul Ma'arif also asked meat importers to commit to helping the government in providing beef / buffalo and preventing fluctuations in meat prices during this year's Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr. Importers who have previously imported and currently still have an import license for chilled fresh beef carcass are also advised to immediately realize their imports to provide fresh beef during Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr. "We also want to ask for support and commitment from all elements to jointly anticipate the availability and prevent the fluctuation of meat prices. We also receive concrete input and suggestions from all parties in an effort to maintain the availability of meat," said Syamsul.
