Abundant Beef Cattle Population, Governor Khofifah Bans Meat Imports Entering East Java

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa monitors beef prices at the Madiun Big Market to ensure commodity prices are stable, Saturday (26/2/2022). (ANTARA/Louis Rika)

JAKARTA – East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa ensures that the beef cattle population in East Java is abundant. Therefore, he banned meat imports from entering East Java.

"In East Java, the population of beef cattle is 4.93 million heads, prices in traditional markets in East Java are stable, supply is also stable," said Governor Khofifah, quoting Antara, Sunday.

He also said that if there was an increase in the price of beef in several other provinces and then there was an option from the government to import meat, he would welcome it. However, the imported meat is not allowed to enter East Java.

"Please if the government does import, but I forbid the entry of imported meat into East Java. God willing, East Java is sufficient to prepare meat needs in all modern and traditional market areas to the point of consumers," he said.

He also added that the stock of meat is also guaranteed to be safe ahead of Eid 2022, given the very large population of beef cattle in East Java.

"It's the same (safe stock), because we have beef cattle with a very large population," he said.

Currently, beef prices are increasing in a number of areas. However, in traditional markets in the City of Kediri, the price for pure beef is Rp. 105,000 per kilogram.

Secretary General of the DPP Indonesian Market Traders Association (DPP IKAPPI Secretary General) Reynaldi Sarijowan hopes that not all meat traders will go on strike for five days starting February 28, 2022 because there are other parties that could be affected, such as meatball sellers and warteg.

For this reason, his party will communicate with the government regarding the intervention plan to deal with soaring meat prices. The HPP price of beef is now set at Rp. 140,000, while traders have to sell at Rp. 115,000 to Rp. 120,000 per kilogram, resulting in a loss.