Govt Boosts National Milk Production

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Enny Ratnaningtyas, secretary of director genera for argo industry at the Industry Ministry, said the government would boost national milk production next year to bolster living healthy and smart programs for the people of Indonesia.

“Needs for milk are growing. It’s time for the government to boost national milk production,” she said on Tuesday.

The government will begin increasing fresh milk production from 10 liter to 20 liter per day, which is why more lactating cows are needed for breeders. “Breeders currently only have three cows on average. There must be more next year,” she said.

Based on Central Statistics Agency data, the population of female dairy cow was only 350,000 in 2013. The figure decreased drastically from 420,000 in the previous year.

Enny said the small figure was one of the biggest obstacles in increasing national milk production. Almost 80 percent of needs of milk in Indonesia still have to depend on import. Most of the imported products are Silk Milk Powder (SMP) and Australian Milk Products (AMP).

Enny continued that a national milk company was developing a new company in Australia to produce SMP and AMP. These products will be shipped to Indonesia. “The problem right now is raw material. If Indonesia already owns the raw material, imported milk will decrease,” she said.

The National Dairy Council stated that domestic fresh milk production was in critical condition. Around 100,000 breeders in Indonesia only produce around 1,600 tons per day. “This is red light,” said National Dairy Council chairman Teguh Boediyana.

YOLANDA RYAN ARMINDYA