VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 3 - State Logistics Agency (Bulog) is tasked with importing 80 thousand tons of buffalo meat from India to handle a hike in beef demand before the Ramadan fasting month and Eid al-Fitr in May 2021.

Bulog's President Director, Budi Waseso, stated that the agency had submitted (a proposal for) buffalo meat import as a precautionary measure against a beef price hike ahead of the religious festivities, as agreed upon during the limited meeting of the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs.

"We submitted a proposal for meat import ahead of the fasting month and Eid al-Fitr because demand will usually increase. The meeting reached an agreement that Bulog will import 80 thousand tons of buffalo meat," Waseso remarked during a virtual press conference here on Wednesday.

The imports would be conducted in stages in accordance with the market demand, so it would stabilize the price without harming local farmers.

Waseso noted that imports could help lower the fluctuations in beef prices in the market, as the public is already accustomed to buffalo meat consumption.

Bulog will hold a tender to get the supplier in India, though it could not confirm the delivery time, as India may impose lockdown at any time to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Waseso is optimistic that the realization of imports can fulfill the government's allocation of 80 thousand tons, after Bulog managed to only import 37 thousand tons of buffalo meat in 2020 out of the 100 thousand tons of the allocation. (Antaranews)