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Local traders complain of imported beef
Local cow breeders and traders have complained over a lack of orders due to the increased import of frozen beef in Batam markets, Riau Islands, ahead of Idul Fitri
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ocal cow breeders and traders have complained over a lack of orders due to the increased import of frozen beef in Batam markets, Riau Islands, ahead of Idul Fitri.
Amir, a beef trader and breeder at the Quarantine and Animal Care Center in Sei Temiang, Batam, said that although Idul Fitri was approaching, there had yet been signs of an increase in orders for fresh beef from his farm.
'Usually prior to Lebaran, orders for cow meat increase. But it is not the case this year, orders are even decreasing,' Amir said on Tuesday, referring to the local term for the celebration that marks the end of the Ramadhan month of fasting.
He said in the previous years, he normally slaughtered 10 cows, weighing around 150 kilograms each, ahead of Idul Fitri and distributed the beef to fresh meat traders in traditional markets. However, at present he only slaughtered three cows a day.
The same phenomenon was also experienced by the other breeders at the center ' there were five of them ' who owned an average of 40 cows each.
'It's because consumers prefer to buy imported beef, which is also sold in traditional markets at a cheaper price,' Amir said.
He said that a kilogram of local fresh beef was sold at between Rp 130,000 (US$10) and Rp 140,000 to consumers. Imported cow meat from Malaysia, India or Australia, on the other hand, was sold for about Rp 80,000 per kilogram.
'We once conducted a survey Of 10 meat traders operating in traditional and modern markets in Batam; only two sold local fresh beef. The rest sold imported meat,' Amir said.
He called on the administration to limit the distribution of imported beef, arguing that the region had an abundant supply of fresh beef.
Amir, who is also an executive of the Association of Batam Livestock Traders (APHTB), said that his organization would meet with the Batam mayor to ask the Trade and Industry Agency and other related agencies to control the distribution of imported beef in the city.
'Idul Adha is our only hope right now because for Idul Fitri, consumers seem to prefer imported, rather than fresh beef,' said Amir, referring to the Islamic Day of Sacrifice.
In related news, Central Sulawesi has been declared the second biggest cow production center in the Eastern Indonesia Region (KTI) after South Sulawesi, with a cow population of 262,000.
Central Sulawesi Husbandry Agency head Faisal Mang told The Jakarta Post that the province had, for the last few years, been sending livestock to a region within the KTI area.
'We have been sending cows for meat to East Kalimantan every year,' Faisal said on Tuesday.
