We control imports of anything not only beef in line with requirement."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said he would not recommend import license for delinquent feed lotters and those involved in beef cartel.

Firm measures would be taken against those keeping stocks from going to the market resulting in soaring prices of beef lately, the minister said here in Friday.

"It is the domain of the oversight commission for business competition (KPPU) and police, but offenders should be punished," he said.

In principle, imports of all strategic commodities should be strictly in line with requirement, he said, adding,"no haggling over that as we have to protect our livestock farmers."

He said he had visited cattle feed lots to make sure that stock is sufficient and found there are around 198,000 cows in the feedlot.

Among the feedlots visited by the minister is one in Banten, which has 21,000 cows and 4,000 of them are ready for slaughtering.

The minister also visited a feedlot in Cianjur, West Java, and found 13,000 cows there.

"Now we are convinced that the data are valid and we decided that the stock is enough for the next four months." he said.

The Greater Jakarta areas needs around 40,000 live cows a month that means the stock is more than enough to feed this area in four months.

"The indicator is that the price has climbed down. That means there is actually no problem," he added.

He said the plan to import of feedlot cows that would need process of fattening for around three months is to meet requirement in the next quarter.

"We control imports of anything not only beef in line with requirement," he repeated saying after a meeting with the association of poultry farmers.

He did no say the number of feedlot cows to be imported.

The trade Minister has said that the government will import up to 300,000 live cows to counteract speculation holding stock from going to the market.

"Before the end of this year we may imports 200,000-300,000 cows ," Trade Minister Thomas Lembong has said.

Andi said there has been discussion with the agriculture and trade ministries on plan to import feedlot cows.

He said Bulog and private companies would be involved in the plan to import feedlot cows.
(Uu.H-ASG/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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