Indonesia Imports Dairy Cows to Boost Domestic Milk Production
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono has announced a significant milestone in Indonesia's efforts to bolster domestic milk production. Approximately three thousand dairy cows imported from Australia have recently entered the country.
According to Sudaryono, this importation represents the first wave in a broader strategy to meet Indonesia's growing milk consumption needs. Future imports are planned from countries including Brazil, Vietnam, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
"There are around three thousand (cows from) Australia," stated Sudaryono to journalists at the Presidential Palace Complex this past Monday (March 3). The deputy minister confirmed that Brazilian cows have already received import permits and are awaiting shipment.
He outlined the government's ambitious target to import approximately 200 thousand dairy cows by the end of 2025. "The target is 200 thousand. We are heading there. This is a form of our investment. We should also accommodate investors with permits and land," he explained.
The government is not solely relying on imports to meet milk demands. Sudaryono affirmed a commitment to boost domestic milk production, particularly through initiatives like the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG). "We are encouraging the existing dairy industries, for example, those in Baturaden, Bogor, Puncak, and others, to contribute to the Free Nutritious Meals," he detailed.
The enterprise aims to reduce the dependence on imported milk by fostering self-sufficiency. "We want to reduce the gap between imports and the domestic industry. We are not anti-import, but we are trying to be self-sufficient in meeting our milk needs," he stated.
These imports form part of a larger governmental plan to establish domestic fresh milk production facilities. The initiative also includes preparing land for dairy cow farming across Java and Lampung Province, ensuring room for incoming bovine populations.
