Members Of The House Of Representatives Of The PKS Faction Share Tips To Anticipate An Increase In Beef Prices

Beef illustration. (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IV DPR RI Johan Rosihan stated that the government needs to immediately strengthen various adequate livestock infrastructure in cattle production areas to anticipate the increase in beef prices.

"I think the government needs to immediately strengthen livestock infrastructure in producing areas to increase national beef production," said Johan Rosihan as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 26.

This Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician revealed that the price of beef over the past five years has tended to increase by an average of 15 percent per year, due to the deficit of beef in Indonesia while beef consumption continues to increase by an average of 2.11 percent.

He reminded that the availability of beef at the end of 2020 was only 47,836 tonnes, while the predicted demand for beef in 2021 would reach 696,956 tonnes and domestic production from local cattle in 2020 would only reach 404,997 tonnes.

"I see that the government needs to focus on developing local cattle to meet the increasing demand for meat," said Johan.

For that, he said, the Ministry of Agriculture is expected to make a big breakthrough to excite cattle breeders so that the local cattle population can be increased to meet the demand for beef supply.

Johan also expressed his hope that the government would continue to strive to increase the beef cattle population, which currently only ranges from 18.17 million heads.

"One form of livestock infrastructure in producing areas that is important to develop is the application of a breeding program through a farmer institutional approach so that there is an improvement in the implementation of feed, genetic and reproductive technology optimally for a sustainable increase in productivity," said Johan.

Previously, the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health of the Ministry of Agriculture emphasized that beef and buffalo stock was still safe and sufficient to meet the needs of the people of the Republic of Indonesia.

Director of Animal Health Fadjar Sumping Tjatur Rasa said this year, demand for beef and buffalo is estimated to increase to 696,956 tons, while domestic production in 2021 is also expected to increase from 2020, which is 425,978 tons.

In addition to domestic production, there are still "carry over" of imported beef / buffalo and feeder beef equivalent to meat from 2020 of 47,836 tons, so that the total domestic production / stock in 2021 is 473,814 tons. This means that there is still a beef deficit of 223,142 tons.

"To meet the shortage of meat, the government will import 502,000 feeder cows, equivalent to 112,503 tons of beef, 85,500 tons of beef imports, as well as imports of Brazilian beef and Indian buffalo in certain circumstances of 100,000 tons," he said.

Fadjar said that the stock of meat at the end of 2021 is estimated at 58,725 tonnes which is expected to also be able to meet the needs of January 2022.