IPB University Expert Reveals Challenges and Strategies for Beef Import Dependency in Indonesia
Indonesia’s dependency on beef imports remains a problem that threatens national food security. For information, the government has increased the number of live cattle imports by 534 thousand heads. This was done to boost domestic beef production.
In response to this, Dr Ujang Sehabudin, a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM) at IPB University, outlined several challenges and strategies for reducing Indonesia’s reliance on beef imports.
According to him, the main challenges in Indonesia’s beef cattle industry are the lack of optimal productivity and the weak structure of local cattle breeding.
“Our local beef cattle are still less competitive in terms of price and efficiency compared to imported cattle, so we are trapped in a cycle of importing beef and live cattle,” he explained.
Dr Ujang noted that the demand for beef among the Indonesian population is quite high. However, not all segments can afford fresh beef. Many people have turned to processed products like meatballs or chicken as alternative sources of animal protein.
“The relatively high price of beef results in low and uneven per capita consumption,” he said.
In this situation, Dr Ujang emphasized the need to strengthen the feedlot system (cattle fattening over a specific period) and local cattle breeding. He believes feedlots can become the backbone of the beef cattle industry.
However, farmers have struggled to obtain affordable feeder cattle. Feedlots in Indonesia heavily rely on imported feeder cattle, primarily from Australia and India.
“The current market is dominated by imported cattle of uniform type and age, while local cattle still lag behind in terms of quality and efficiency,” he said. This dependence, Dr Ujang noted, makes prices highly sensitive to global fluctuations and policies of exporting countries.
“If there are embargo policies or diseases like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), our supply is immediately disrupted. This happened a few years ago when Indonesia had to halt cattle imports from several countries due to FMD,” he revealed.
He suggested that the government should encourage improvements in the efficiency of local beef production through breeding credit programs, genetic quality enhancement, and ranch-based livestock farming development. “Local cattle like Madura cattle have great potential if supported by proper breeding and feed management,” he explained.
According to him, genetic breeding or crossbreeding is a strategy to improve the weight and efficiency of local cattle. He gave an example of a crossbreeding program between local and exotic cattle to produce offspring with higher performance.
“However, there must be a long-term commitment. It cannot be half-hearted. If we want self-sufficiency, there must be investment upstream, including the availability of superior female breeding stock and breeding infrastructure,” Dr Ujang emphasized.
He also noted that the success of breeding programs would generate a multiplier effect for farmers and the village economy. With an increase in the local cattle population, meat supply could become more stable and prices more competitive.
According to him, another strategic step is to establish fair market segmentation between local and imported meat. “We need to differentiate between premium markets, mid-range markets, and economy markets so that local meat has its place. Not everything should depend on imports,” he explained.
Dr Ujang also highlighted the government’s crucial role in monitoring and distributing import quotas. He cautioned that import quotas should not be used as a tool for business speculation but should be directed to address domestic supply shortages proportionally.
“If import policies are not properly controlled, local beef will struggle to compete, and small-scale farmers will be further marginalized,” he said. (dr) (IAAS/LAN)
