Self-Sufficiency in Meat Will not be achieved 2014
If the management and policies taken by the government is still like this, we can be sure the government’s plan of self-sufficiency in meat in 2014 will fail. The government policy on beef with import quota is perceived to be inappropriate because there are many parties that still can play in it. However, this will be different, that is, Indonesia is likely to be self-sufficient if a tariff policy, import quotas, subsidized production and technological improvement are applied simultaneously. This view was delivered by Prof. Dr. Ir. Rina Oktaviani, IPB’s Professor of Economics, in the discussion of beef Issues in the Meeting Room of PSP3, Darmaga Campus of IPB Baranangsiang (28/7).
"Beef and buffalo self-sufficiency program (of 2014) is a revision of the previous program of 2005 and the accelerated beef self-sufficiency of 2010. Self-sufficiency is when the minimum domestic supply of 90% plus 10% import can be reached. However, with the current conditions (decreased number of cattle by 19% and the government implemented policies) it can be ascertained that the beef self-sufficiency program will be revised again," she said in the presence of a number of media reporters.
Indonesia was actually self-sufficient in meat in 1990 with the domestic livestock production reaching 99.32%, but it continuously declined to reach only 70% in the supply of local cattle (data of 2011).
In Indonesia livestock is 98% controlled by farmers of household scales, raising 2 – 3 cows. Moreover, 85% of the cows were classified as underweight and of medium weight (carcass surveys conducted by IPB in 2012). It has something to do with the Indonesian cattle genetic improvement in terms of fattening. If cow seedlings are poor, the result will also be poor however much feed is given (cows do become fatter).
"To make this program successful, the self-sufficiency policy must be changed, that is, by introducing the policy of import tariffs and quotas, production subsidies and technological improvements. This tariff policy is better, but it requires a long red tape (approval of the Minister of Finance, Parliament, etc.). If you keep allowing imports and with no tariffs, then in five years Indonesian animal farm will ruin," she said.
Prof. Rina offers a solution, that is, by combining these measures: improving technology (increasing artificial insemination dose by 25%), increasing imports of cattle seeds by 20%, decreasing interest rates by 4%, reducing import of feeder cattle by 25% and cutting beef imports by 35%.
"If these measures are correctly and well applied, however the year of 2014 will not reach the self-sufficiency (domestic production of only 80%). Self-sufficiency will be achieved in 2021 provided those policies are carried out and there is a constant increase in demand," she said.
In the same occasion, IPB’s Professor of Animal Husbandry, Prof. Muladno said our animal farming pattern is not based on business but on investment, so it does not predict the people’s demand for beef.
"For this reason, the government should teach farmers and ranchers to change their attitudes and understand the business. This should a collective business, and I recommend 1000 mother cows already in the hands of small farmers for every collective business. IPB has made a number of pilot projects in seven locations, namely in South Sumatra (three locations), Madura Island (two locations), South Kalimantan (one location) and Jombang (one but for goats)," he said. (Mtd)
