Loss Of Local Farmers, Ministry Of Agriculture Inspects Importers Of Lambang And Kambing Meat

The Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health of the Ministry of Agriculture conducted a surprise inspection (sidak) at one of the warehouses for importing sheep and goats in Depok, West Java (Ministry of Agriculture Public Relations).

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Agriculture through the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health held a surprise inspection (sidak) of 13 imported sheep and goats. These warehouses are allegedly triggering losses for local breeders.

Director General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health of the Ministry of Agriculture Agung Suganda directly led an inspection at one of the warehouses for importing sheep in the Depok area, West Java, Sunday.

Agung emphasized the importance of supervision because it is an effort to ensure that import meat revenue and distribution runs according to regulations and maintain the sustainability of local farmers' businesses in the midst of competition with imported products.

"We want to ensure the income and distribution of imported meat, especially mutton meat, according to regulations. The government will not tolerate practices that harm local breeders," Agung said in a statement in Jakarta, quoted from ANTARA, Sunday, November 24.

This inspection, continued Agung, was a follow-up to the direction of the Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman to protect local breeders from the cheap impact of imported adult sheep (mutton). Lower import product prices have the potential to reduce domestic meat prices.

"If a violation is found, we will take firm action," said Agung.

In addition to checking documents, the team also ensured that the quality of the meat stored in the warehouse was in accordance with health standards and food safety. Even so, Agung did not specify the 13 warehouses carried out by his staff.

Agung explained that this inspection is part of the government's efforts to ensure that the domestic meat market remains conducive and does not harm local breeders.

Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture had temporarily suspended the issuance of recommendations for importing Mutton meat while evaluating and calculating the existing stocks in importers' warehouses.

"We don't want the surplus of imported mutton meat to suppress the prices of local sheep and goats, so that our breeders don't get a decent price. Our job is to protect them," he said.

The government also asked importers to hold back the distribution of carcas and mutton meat when the prices of sheep and goats at the farmer level fell. In addition, importers are advised to absorb carcas and local goat sheep through the associations that oversee farmers in accordance with the clusters that have been built.

On the other hand, the government continues to strive to bring together importers and distributors with local breeders to increase the absorption of local meat. Efforts to harmonize export requirements with Malaysia and Brunei are also accelerated so that the surplus of goats and local sheep can be absorbed in the international market.

"We are optimistic that the steps we take, including strict supervision of imports, will strengthen the position of local breeders and maintain the sustainability of people's farms," said Agung.