Selling Cheap Buffalo Meat, Head Of Bulog Budi Waseso Worried There's Deviation

Bulog President Director Budi Waseso. (Photo: Doc. Bulog)

JAKARTA - Perum Bulog has distributed buffalo meat which is pegged at around Rp. 80,000 per kilogram (Kg). Bulog President Director Budi Waseso or Buwas also warned of irregularities in the sale of meat in the retail market. This is because of the price difference.

The price of buffalo meat sold by Bulog is much cheaper than the current market price of meat, where the average price is set at around Rp. 120,000 to Rp. 130,000 per kg.

"So later there will be (buffalo meat) in retail, including at Alfamart, Indomaret, the price is IDR 80,000 per kg, don't let anyone sell it. More than that, it means there are irregularities," Buwas told reporters in Jakarta, Thursday, April 14.

As is known, Bulog was indeed given an assignment by the government to import 100,000 tons of frozen buffalo meat from India to meet domestic food needs throughout 2022, especially during this year's Ramadan and Eid period.

Buwas said that currently there are 20,000 tons of buffalo meat imported from India to Indonesia. For acceleration, Buwas said Bulog will come with another 36,000 tons. According to him, the meat that has arrived is directly distributed to the retail market to be sold to the public.

"Because they are the ones who buy, it means that they become our supplier later on, he must guarantee this to the public at a price of Rp. 80,000 per kg," he said.

Furthermore, Buwas also ensured that his party would carry out government assignments to the fullest. This effort is to maintain the national meat stock.

Buwas assessed that the arrival of imported meat from India was urgently needed to meet the availability of domestic meat.

"The arrival of this imported meat stock is urgently needed to answer the question of the availability of meat, which is experiencing an upward trend in demand during Ramadan and ahead of Eid, for that I directly monitor the arrival of imported meat," he said.