Indonesia gov’t transports 1,790 cows to markets ahead of Eid al Adha

FILE PHOTO: A worker washes and cools down cattle for sale for the Muslim Eid Al-Adha holiday in Depok, south of Jakarta, Indonesia September 7, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s government is in the process of completing the transportation of 1,790 cows from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to the cities of Bekasi and Jakarta in anticipation of a spike in demand for meat over the Eid al Adha season at the end of August and beginning of September, Fini Murfiani, farming director of product processing and marketing at the agriculture ministry told Salaam Gateway.

According to Murfiani, the price of meat usually rises to between 60,000 and 65,000 Indonesian rupiah ($4.49 - $4.87) per kilogram during Eid al Adha, from off-peak season prices of between 43,000 and 45,000 rupiah ($3.22 - $3.37) per kilogram.

“We want meat prices under control, so we have added additional stock from the production region to consumer regions, and we’re making sure the distribution process goes well. NTT is one of our production centres, with a current cow stock of 66,300,” she said.

The 1,790 cows will be distributed to Bekasi, in West Java, and Jakarta from NTT on the livestock vessel Camara Nusantara I.

The first shipment of 500 cows to Bekasi was completed on August 1 and 950 cows will be shipped to Jakarta today, August 3. The rest will be delivered on August 4.

Eid al Adha will fall on September 1. 

The government monitors daily meat prices through the regional market information officer.

Prices are then updated on the new website of the Center for Strategic Food Prices Information (PIHPS) that gives updated data on 10 major food commodities such as rice, garlic, onion, beef, and sugar, obtained daily from 164 traditional markets in 82 cities across the country. PIHPS is also available as an app.

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