Government Ensures Safe Beef Stock Ahead Of Ramadan, 12,000 Tons Of Surplus

Beef trading activities in traditional markets. (Photo: By courtesy)

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) ensures that the national beef stock ahead of the momentum of Ramadan is in an adequate position.

The Ministry of Trade's Director General of Domestic Trade, Syailendra, said that the meat stock for the April 2021 period was 72,000 tons. Meanwhile, the estimated consumption next month is believed to be in the range of 60,000 tonnes.

"This means that we still have a surplus of around 12,000 tons," he said in a virtual discussion held by Hipmi, Monday, March 29.

Syailendra added, his party acknowledged that there was a gradual increase in the price of beef in the market. However, he ensured that the fluctuation would not exceed the limit projected by the government.

"Prices do not exceed IDR 130,000 per kilogram, at most only IDR 120,000," he said.

This assumption is driven by the adequacy of existing meat reserves.

To note, the Ministry of Trade said that beef consumption for the March period was around 52,000 tons. Meanwhile, the existing reserves in this period amounted to 70,000 tons, consisting of 44,000 tons of imported meat and the rest was local supplies and allocated a surplus from the previous term.

Then for the May period, the Ministry of Trade said beef stock was around 67,000 tons, consisting of an import supply of 36,000 tons, a local supply of 18,000 tons and an April surplus of 12,000 tons.

Meanwhile, consumption in May is believed to be 76,000 tonnes. This means, there is minus around 8,000 tons to 9,000 tons.

However, Syailendra ensured that the deficiency figure would be eliminated by empowering cattle breeders in various regions in Indonesia.

"I toured two provinces, East Java and Central Java. We just need to mobilize a lot of cattle stock (to meet needs)," he said.

On a separate occasion, Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, confirmed that the momentum of Ramadan is usually said to raise prices by around 15 percent due to high demand.

"For the citizens of Jakarta, we ask not to panic, not to worry. Until today, Jakarta has never had a problem with food. Under normal conditions and during a pandemic, even though Ramadan, food is available," he said in a virtual discussion, Thursday, March 25 last. .

In the capital city itself, Riza explained that the current stock of beef reaches 14,000 tons, out of a projection of about 5,000 tons to 6,000 tons.