Never before has it occurred in the past 70 years."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government, through the Agriculture Ministry, supplied nine thousand tons of frozen meat to several markets in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) to control the fluctuating prices of the commodity before Idul Fitri.
"Working with 12 private companies, we supplied nine thousand tons of frozen meat, equivalent to 52 thousand heads of cattle. This is the first time that frozen meat will be sold in stalls at an affordable price. Never before has it occurred in the past 70 years," Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman stated during a market operation at the Jatinegara market on Friday.
Amran affirmed that he will review and repeal regulations that had hindered the entry of frozen meat in traditional markets. According to target, the regulation will be amended in one to two weeks.
According to Amran, nine thousand tons of frozen meat will suffice the needs of the commodity until Idul Fitri, popularly called Lebaran in Indonesia, as the daily requirement is estimated to reach some one thousand heads of cattle.
He said the price of frozen meat ranged between Rp75 thousand and Rp80 thousand per kilogram in some 18 markets across Jabodetabek.
The frozen meat will be distributed to not only meet the needs of the people during the Lebaran festivities but also until the price of local beef, which is now reaching Rp125 thousand per kilogram, can slowly be brought down to be at par with the price of frozen beef.
Another strategy for the government to suppress the price of beef is to reduce the length of the supply chain from farmers to consumers.
"The long-term solution is through TTI (Toko Tani Indonesia or Indonesian Farmers Market). That means the production of breeders and farmers will go directly to TTI and then to the consumers," the agriculture minister added.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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