Trade Ministry Allows Breeder Cow Import Without Quota

Jakarta (Antara) - The trade ministry said imports of breeder cows are allowed without quota restriction. Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan described the policy as a big leap to self sufficiency in beef supply in the country. Gita said importers of feedlot cows are required to import breeder cows without quota. "The policy of importing breeder cows without limit is expected to lead in the long run to self sufficiency in beef supply," Gita said here on Friday. Indonesia has been heavily dependent on import for beef with import coming mainly from Australia. Gita, however, said there was little interest in breeder cow imports because of inadequate infrastructure for breeding in the country. Therefore, importers are required to import breeder cows at least 25 percent of their imports of feedlot cows, he said. With the regulation, imports of breeder cows are expected to reach 185,000 this year, he said. In 2014, the country would need 575,000 tons of beef in 2014, and domestic production is estimated to reach 443,000 tons or a deficit of 132,000 tons, he said. In the first quarter of 2014, the trade ministry has issued license for 35 importers to import 130,245 live feedlot cows and license for 16 importers to import 26,360 beef cows. In the second week of January, 2014, the price of beef rose to Rp97,600 per kilogram from Rp94,210 per kilogram a month earlier. The prices of beef in production centers like Denpasar, Kupang, and Makassar are lower at Rp70,000 - Rp80,000 per kg. The prices are higher in Bandar Lampung, Surabaya, Pekanbaru, Padang, Serang, DKI Jakarta, Bandung, Samarinda, Banda Aceh, Palembang, Bengkulu, Mamuju, and Ternate. (*)