"The government has opened up new sources, not just Australia. We can import dairy cattle from New Zealand, Mexico, the United States, and most recently Brazil," the Director General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, Agung Suganda, said on Tuesday.
According to him, Brazil has been declared a country with a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free zone without vaccination.
Related news: Gov't to facilitate cattle imports for farmers to boost milk quality
"This is an opportunity for us. Relying on our supply from just one country would be limited," he added.
Previously, the ministry confirmed that live cattle imports would be carried out through an independent investment scheme by business actors, to avoid strain on the state budget and to support food security strengthening along with the industrialization of the national livestock sector.
This step expands opportunities for local businesses, particularly smallholder farmers and cooperatives, Suganda remarked.
Related news: Indonesia designs road map to reach milk sufficiency by 2029
The government is accelerating the National Milk and Meat Production Acceleration Program (P2SDN), a mandate of the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).
This plan is being implemented through the planned import of one million dairy cattle and one million beef cattle within the next five years.
The Ministry of Agriculture has secured commitments from 196 dairy cattle businesses and 84 beef cattle businesses, including both domestic (PMDN) and foreign investment (PMA) players.
The policy of importing breeding cattle is not a substitute for local production but rather an accelerator for national food self-sufficiency, as most imported cattle are pregnant and ready to reproduce to increase their population.
As concrete support, the government is providing fiscal incentives such as tax allowances and investment allowances, as well as non-fiscal support in the form of land provision, technical assistance, and oversight of the licensing process for livestock investors.
Related news: Indonesia to import 200 thousand dairy cattle for free meal program
Related news: Indonesia lifts cattle import quotas to ensure food security
Translator: Aji Cakti, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: M Razi Rahman
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
