In The Midst Of The COVID-19 Pandemic, Exports Of The Livestock Sub-sector Have Increased

Illustration. (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture)

JAKARTA - The spread of the corona virus or COVID-19 is increasingly widespread. As a result, global economic growth, including in Indonesia, was disrupted. However, amidst the onslaught of the new virus, exports of the Indonesian livestock sector are increasing.

The Ministry of Agriculture's PKH Director General I Ketut Diarmita said, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health, continues to strive to increase exports amid this virus pandemic.

"Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), exports of the livestock sub-sector from January to February 2020 reached IDR 1.7 trillion, or an increase of 30 percent compared to exports in January-February 2019 which was recorded at IDR 1.3 trillion year on year (YOY), "he said, through a written statement received by VOI, in Jakarta, Monday, April 6.

Ketut said, in April 2020, there were several companies in the livestock sub-sector that had confirmed that they would export to several countries with a total value of IDR 538.12 billion.

"It is expected that this value will continue to increase until the end of the month," he said.

In April, said Ketut, companies that have reported their export plans include PT Sinar Indochem and PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia. Exports will begin next week with the destination country, the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste.

Each of these companies, said Ketut, exported 240 tons and 60 tons with a total export value of IDR 1.57 billion. Not only that, it is also noted that PT Greenfields Indonesia will export 417 tons of milk and processed milk products to Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam with a value of Rp. 5.67 billion.

Then, continued Ketut, PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia will also export Hatching Eggs to Myanmar and Day Old Chicken (DOC) to RDTL totaling 625,000 and 18,000, respectively, with a total value of IDR 3 billion.

"In accordance with the direction of the Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, we will continue to encourage and facilitate companies planning to export livestock products," he said.

Meanwhile, Director of Processing and Marketing of Animal Husbandry Products, Fini Murfiani said the company that produces Swallow's Nest (SBW), namely PT Ori Ginalnest Indonesia, will also export to the United States, China and Australia as much as 780 kilograms (Kg) with a value of Rp24. , 96 billion.

Not only that, Fini explained, there are several companies engaged in the veterinary medicine industry that will export 343,582,000 doses of veterinary drugs for vaccines and biologics, 23,922 tons of pharmaceuticals and premixes to China, Japan, Australia and 30 other countries.

"The export value for veterinary drugs will reach IDR 502.66 billion," he said.

Fini admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic that has spread massively in the world has made several affected countries issue policies to restrict the entry and exit of goods and people from and to their countries, and some have even adopted lockdown policies. This is what makes trading activity under pressure.

However, Fini said, he was optimistic that exports of sub-livestock products could survive economic uncertainty due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. This is reflected in the achievement of the export performance of the livestock sub-sector from January to February 2020, and the export plans of business actors in April.

"As the Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo continues, the agricultural sector must be the most resilient sector in facing various crises. Not only focus on increasing production, but also strive to find alternative markets for export destinations," he said.