SELF-SUPPORTING IN MEAT NOT EASY, IMPORTING KEEP RISING

Government’s efforts to pursue self supporting in meat is evidently not easy, Even the government’s intention to reduce import of meat was never successful, on the contrary import of meat tend to increase.

Thomas Sembiring, Executive Direct of the Indonesia Meat Importers (Aspidi) told Business News in Jakarta on Tuesday (11/1) that last year import of meat was post at 110 thousand tons, when the Government sets target at only 73 thousand tons. Even in 2011, it is estimated that import of meat would rise again to 112 thousand tons to 113 thousand tons.

The high volume of meat imports proved Government’s failure to fulfill need for beef for the domestic market. And yet with the growth of economy, the demand for beef should increase “ Apparently the import volume of meat depends on Government’s capability to cover up need” Thomas was quoted as saying.

The growth of demand for beef in 2011 was projected at 6.5% which means growing demand in terms of volume and therefore calls for additional import. Meanwhile meat consumption rose from 2 kg per capita in 2010 to become 2.02 kg per capita in 2011. Hence the need for meat this year is estimated to increase to the level of 487 thousand tons.

The cause of Government’s unsuccessful efforts supplying meat for domestic need was because the efforts of increasing meat production had not been significant enough. The indication fund was insufficient for procurement of calves, female cows and failure in preventing slaughter of productive female cows.

Other hindrances which held back Government effort in increasing livestock population was the system of livestock rearing at home. For comparison: cattle rearing abroad is effort to produce meat so livestock farming serves as cores business ; but Indonesia, cattle rearing is merely side business.

Other hindrances to the pusuit of self-supporting in meat bu 2014 is confused data of livestock farm. Under such circumstances the spidi Association eas expecting the Government to maximize performance of the Monitoring Team formed. The team is expected to make a monthly evaluation of livestock population as part of livestock sensus of 2011 and 2012.

The minitoring team can also make evaluation or import process of meat and cow. For that matter Aspid proposed that the application letter (SPP) for import of meat and cow be efective not for six month but three month instead. The reason was that if the validity was three months, evaluation could be faster, impoters colud even report execution of import immediately.

Therefore it must never happen that the data compiled by the minitoring team is wrong, as it may pose as boomerang in making the self-supporting plan. Soon with the better data, the Government could take realistic measure including the plan of supporting in meat.

For the short run, Aspid asked the government not to force execution of meat self supporting plan because if mis calculated, what would happen is turbulence in that line of business which would disadvantage the people.

For this year in particular, businesspeople predict price of meat would inch up increased price of meat would be felt by the time businesspeople buy meat for February delivery.

The problem now is that many producer countries are reducing their production and switch rearing land for agro lines. For example Brazil is reducing cattle population to switch form rearing to sugarcane growing. In Argentine. Vast areas of livestock rearing changed function into soybean planting in Australia many livestock centers are flooded, so many cows of that region could not be taken out.” As the world supply of meat drops but demand for meat increases, price of meat would definitely rise” Thomas Sembiring was quoted as saying.

Minister of Agriculture: Revise Roadmap of Self Supporting in meat

Meanwhile the Ministry of Agriculture stated that with limited budget, most likely the Government is must revise the roadmap for Self Supporting in meat. However, the Government is determined to pursue self supporting in meat by 2014.

Moreover that fact is that by 2010 production of meat increased by 13.3 percent to become 450 thousand tons. Somehow the production output is sufficient to meet domestic demand. Some efforts in jacking up production are among other saving productive female cows, enhancement of artificial insemination and controlling animal diseases.