Speaking to reporters at his office on Wednesday, Hasan said the policy aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s agenda to strengthen food security, particularly in securing domestic beef protein supplies and increasing local production.
“If we are not capable (of meeting the demand), then anyone who wants to import female cattle is welcome to do so, so they can give birth here for breeding. That way, once we have a breeding system, we won’t need to import anymore,” he explained.
Hasan added that another strategy being encouraged is to increase the value of imported cattle through domestic fattening programs. The government has set a target to import 250,000 dairy cattle this year, but he suggested that the quota could be relaxed.
“There is a quota, but we are easing it. If needed, just state how many you want to bring in by submitting a letter to the relevant ministry,” he said.
The minister also underlined the importance of dairy cattle in producing sufficient milk to support the government’s Free Nutritious Meal program, which includes milk distribution for children.
“We have a nutritious meal program that requires a lot of milk, so we also need dairy cows. If businesses want to develop dairy cattle here, we will make it easy for them—they are welcome to import,” Hasan emphasized.
Separately, National Food Agency (Bapanas) Head Arief Prasetyo Adi confirmed that the government is opening the door for live cattle imports, with the aim of developing and processing livestock products domestically.
“The main point in this coordination meeting is to grow our domestic livestock sector. Because if we buy processed meat products, it is the livestock industry abroad that benefits,” Adi explained.
“But if we import feeder cattle, breeders, or dairy cows, then it means we are investing in development within Indonesia,” he added.
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Translator: Arnidhya Nur, Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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