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Economic potential of Idul Adha dampened this year due to COVID-19: Minister
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A worker feeds cattle hay ahead of Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice) in Depok, on the outskirts of Jakarta on July 28. (Reuters/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana)
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has dampened the economic bounce normally spurred by the sale and slaughter of livestock for Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice), Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi has said.
Quoting a survey by think-tank Indonesia Development and Islamic Studies, the minister said that last year Rp 28.4 trillion (US$1.9 billion) in sales of sacrificial livestock was recorded, equal to 181,000 tons of meat, with 3.5 million people participating in the ritual.
Meanwhile, in light of the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the number of participants this year is predicted to fall to 2.3 million people, with Rp 20.5 trillion in sales expected.
Read also: Muslims in Jakarta’s 33 red zones should avoid Idul Adha mass prayers
“Sales of sacrificial livestock require well planned and trustworthy management to add to the community’s welfare, as well as to decrease meat imports and empower local farmers with the goal of becoming self-sufficient in the production of halal meat,” Fachrul said on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com.
During Idul Adha, Muslims who can afford it are encouraged to perform qurban (sacrifice) in which they buy cows, sheep or goats to be slaughtered, with the meat distributed to the poor and needy.
Fachrul added that the ritual helped increase meat consumption, with Indonesia’s level of meat consumption currently lower than neighboring countries Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
"Meat consumption in Indonesia is around 2.6 kilograms per capita, while in other countries it is around 4.5 kilograms per capita," he said. (aly)
