January 19, 2009

Indonesia's livestock sector has urged the agriculture ministry to be consistent with its efforts to reach meat self-sufficiency.

The government needs consistency in developing meat self-sufficiency in 2010 by developing domestic livestock, said Teguh Boediyana, secretary general of the Indonesian Cattle Breeders Association on Thursday (Jan 15).

Teguh said the ministry's decision to import beef from Brazil, which was not yet foot-and-mouth disease free, was seen as lacking in efforts to prevent domestic livestock from being affected by the disease.

Indonesian Farmers Association secretary general, Rachmat Pambudy, said the ministry's policy is inconsistent if local cattle breeders are ignored while meat imports are supported.

The ministry needs to be more focused on efforts to improve domestic livestock production and stop importing meat, said Pambudy.