The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) has ordered 10,000 tons of buffalo meat from India and it will enter the local market in stages, with the first batch coming in two weeks.
he State Logistics Agency (Bulog) has ordered 10,000 tons of buffalo meat from India and it will enter the local market in stages -- the first batch has already been shipped and is expected to arrive in two weeks.
The government is aiming to sell the buffalo meat for Rp 60,000 per kilogram, a lower price than is set for beef, said Bulog president director Djarot Kusumayakti.
The new imports will break into Indonesia’s traditional beef import market, which primarily receives from Australia, in an attempt to bring down beef prices that have stubbornly soared higher than the government’s ideal price of Rp 80,000 per kg.
Beef trades at Rp 100,000 to Rp 130,000 per kg around the country, according to a nationwide survey by hargapangan.id.
Djarot said one of the challenges of importing buffalo meat from India would be to convince the public that it is safe for consumption.
“We’re the first institution instructed to bring buffalo meat into the local market, so we have to promote that it’s healthy for consumption,” he said on Wednesday during an open house at the private residence of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Rini Soemarno in Kuningan, South Jakarta.
As of May 2016, India was not yet recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health as a country free of foot and mouth disease (FMD), although it has several disease-free zones. A new Indonesian regulation allows for imports from countries with FMD-free zones. (est)
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.