Budi Arie Asks For Milk Cooperatives Not To Worry About Their Products Not Being Absorbed

Minister of Cooperatives Budi Arie Setiadi stated that the Association of Indonesian Milk Cooperatives (GKSI) does not need to worry about opportunities for absorption of local dairy products produced.

The reason is, according to Budi Arie, the free nutritious food program (MBG) which will start in January 2025 will require a large supply of milk to meet the needs of 15 million beneficiaries.

"There is no need to be afraid about the market, it has been created with this MBG program. In fact, we are currently short on milk supply, so we will secure domestic milk production for MBG needs," Budi Arie said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, November 15.

The government has committed to absorbing local milk production, especially from cooperatives.

Even so, Budi Arie emphasized that dairy cow breeders and managers of dairy cooperatives must also be able to ensure that the quality of milk produced is guaranteed and the price can compete.

Based on GKS data, the average daily production of fresh milk reaches 1.23 million liters per day.

Meanwhile, the need to fulfill the MBG program is around 3 million liters per day.

He said efforts to increase milk productivity are currently faced with various challenges, one of which is a significant decrease in the number of cattle.

Prior to the outbreak of mouth and nail disease (PMK), the cattle population reached 239,196, but has now decreased to 214,878.

Responding to this, Budi Arie stated that the Kemenkop would coordinate with various parties to overcome the problems faced by cattle breeders in Indonesia.

He will also immediately convey this issue to President Prabowo Subianto so that there is an affirmative policy so that the national milk production shortage can be resolved immediately.

Secretary of GKSI Unang Sudarma said that the problems that are often faced by dairy farmers are challenges in maintaining the quality of milk to stay fresh.

The reason is, milk must be stored in a consistent cold temperature, namely 4 degrees Celsius, which requires special cooling equipment.

He said another problem faced by dairy farmers is the lack of interest of the younger generation to continue their livestock business because they prefer to work in the formal sector.

This condition causes the dairy cow population to decrease and has a direct impact on decreasing milk productivity.