Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sudaryono, conveyed this on Thursday after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto to discuss the priority work program of the Red and White Cabinet.
"There are around 50–60 companies involved in bringing in live cattle for milk and meat. However, it is still a commitment, not a single company has brought in its cattle," he informed.
During the meeting, he also outlined the ministry's efforts to sort out various import and distribution permits for domestic cattle to ease the activities of business actors.
The permits allow business actors — foreign importers, cooperatives, and individuals — to bring live cattle to Indonesia with their own investment, he explained.
Sudaryono informed that the investment is expected to increase the cattle population in Indonesia to ensure the sustainability of the Free Nutritious Meal program and national food security.
"Foreign parties are interested in this program because this program guarantees a large need of milk for the nutritious meal program in the future," he said.
In addition, an increase in the live cattle population in Indonesia is expected to cut dependence on imports of finished cattle products for public consumption, he added.
"We are offering an opportunity for the business sector to bring live cattle to Indonesia, to conduct business, and invest in Indonesia, in order to meet the needs of meat and milk that have been imported so far," he added.
According to him, his party is targeting to rotate the supply of live cattle, starting from the first three months of the signing of the commitment.
"We will try as soon as possible. Maybe in the first three months, we can have the first shipment. The total number of commitments for milk plus cattle is around two million cows," he informed.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus/Rangga Pandu, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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