Fresh Beef Prices Skyrocket, National Food Agency And Ministry Of Trade Prepare Alternative Frozen Meat Products

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The price of fresh beef has experienced a surge ahead of Eid 2022, one of which is due to high demand. To overcome this problem, the government provides an alternative in the form of frozen meat products for both cows and buffalo.

Head of the National Food Agency or National Food Agency (NFA) Arief Prasetyo Adi when reviewing the needs for basic goods at Rawamangun Market, Jakarta, found that beef prices were still high, ranging from Rp. 130,000 to Rp. 140,000 per kilogram (Kg).

This review of basic fuel prices was carried out with the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Muhammad Lutfi and the Deputy Head of the National Police Food Task Force Brigadier General Whisnu Hermawan today, Thursday, April 14.

Arief explained that the price increase was triggered by the increase in international feeder cattle prices, which had an impact on domestic beef prices. However, his party has made a tactic to address this, namely by providing several other alternative products such as frozen beef and frozen buffalo meat.

"Regarding the price of beef, the price is around Rp. 130,000-Rp. 140,000 per kilogram. This is due to the fact that the price has increased from abroad. So now we will balance it with several other products with lower prices, such as frozen meat, " said Arief, at Rawamangun Market, Jakarta, Thursday, April 14.

Furthermore, Arief said, frozen beef, both beef and buffalo, will be supplied as alternative products, so that people are not fixated on fresh beef.

"So later the community will have an alternative to which meat to buy. Fresh beef is available, frozen beef is available, and there is also frozen buffalo meat," he explained.

Arief also ensured that until Idul Fitri 2022 the availability of beef is sufficient and the price is affordable.

Buffalo meat is the people's choice

On the same occasion, Trade Minister Lutfi said that currently buffalo meat is starting to be liked by the public. Therefore, the government together with the National Food Agency have prepared frozen buffalo meat for domestic supply. This is so that people can consume meat other than beef.

"Buffalo meat is actually more preferred. For example, Padang people, they use buffalo meat when they eat rendang. So there has been a shift," said Lutfi.

Lutfi explained previously that buffalo meat was not in demand by the public. This is because the way to sell it is different from beef on the market.

"At first they didn't like it because the way of selling it was different. But now people have started to like it and the price difference is pretty good, so people have started to switch to buffalo meat," he said.