PDIP Legislator Reminds Prabowo's Food Swasembada Promise Amid Milk Import Issues

Illustration (Photo: Doc Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PDIP faction, Anam Mufti, demanded President Prabowo Subianto's commitment to strengthen food self-sufficiency amid the issue of milk imports.

According to him, prioritizing imported milk compared to local breeder products is contrary to Prabowo's vision and mission, which wants Indonesia to be able to have food sovereignty.

"So actually we are collecting a promise from President Prabowo, from every statement he wants Indonesia to be self-sufficient in food," said Mufti to reporters, Saturday, November 16.

"We are already imported in various food sectors, now we don't have to rely on imports and kill our local dairy cattle breeders. If this is the hope that food self-sufficiency will be difficult to achieve," he continued.

Previously, a viral video showing cattle farmers throwing away milk harvests was in line with the issue of imported milk.

In the solidarity action of cattle breeders in Boyolali, East Java, they threw away about 50 liters of cow's milk or the same as Rp 400 million if sold.

The discarded milk came from 20,000 breeders who were taken to the final disposal site.

One of the reasons the Dairy Processing Industry (IPS) does not absorb local milk production is because the price is considered higher than imported milk.

According to Mufti, the government needs to pay attention to the high price of domestic milk rather than imported milk.

"Local farmers also want to compete, if for example the price is considered too expensive from imported milk, although in reality the price is still the same, he said. So it is necessary for the government to not to open the import tap and then harm local farmers," said Mufti.

Legislators from the East Java II electoral district also asked the government to pay more attention to the obstacles faced by dairy farmers.

Starting from problem mitigation, distribution assistance, to facilitating dialogue between local breeders and the IPS association.

Dairy cow breeders usually distribute their milk production through village unit (KUD) cooperatives.

"We hope that the Ministry of Cooperatives will go to the field to solve this problem. The government must become a bridge or mediator from milk producers with farmers so that our dairy industry ecosystem is maintained," explained Mufti.

The member of the Commission in the DPR in charge of trade sector affairs and supervision of business competition encouraged the government to be present to provide solutions to the difficulties of dairy cattle breeders.

Mufti asked the government to evaluate regulations governing the exemption from imported milk taxes so that local producers are not harmed.

"So our dairy cattle breeders and local small industry players can still run. If we run business from real industry groups, they can also move the economy in their respective regions," he concluded.