"The average milk consumption of the Indonesian people is only about 11 liters per capita per year," the minister said here after attending the National Milk Day 2011 here on Saturday.
He said that the average Indonesian milk consumption only accounted for one-third of Malaysia`s average milk consumption which was 36 liters per capita per annum, let alone if it is compared with those of the Unite States and the Netherlands.
Therefore, the government continued to make efforts in order to increase the people`s average milk consumption rate, among others through celebrating the Nusantara Milk Day, which on Saturday was themed with "A Glass of Fresh Milk Per Day," he said.
He said that about 70 percent of the country`s need for milk were still imported while the domestic national milk production could only met 30 percent of the people`s need.
The minister said that if the condition of milch cow in Indonesia is considered, it would show that the country`s milk production was not yet able to meet the people`s need for milk because domestic production was still in small scale.
"We also need to improve the country`s milk production management, such as the need to pay attention to its hygiene aspect and its originality," the minister said.
In the meantime, Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyo said milk producing districts in East Java included Boyolali, Salatiga, and Semarang.
Central Java`s milk contribution to national need for milk per annum reached 10.7 percent per annum. About 70 percent of national milk need is still imported.
Therefore, the governor always called on livestock farmers to maintain the quality of their milk, and to avoid mixing cow milk with coconut milk.(*)A014
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
