REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA =- East Java has conducted innovation programs through, local Animal Husbandry Department Office, to strengthen the beef self-sufficiency in the area.

"We maximize the programs and commitments for East Java to have sufficient amount of beef," East Java Animal husbandry Department Chief Rohayati told reporters in Surabaya on Tuesday.

One of the efforts is to increase the cattle population in the area, which currently reaches 4.4 million and is the biggest number found anywhere else in Indonesia.

With this number, the beef production could reach 403 tons, she said.

According to her, the increase in beef cattle stocks in East Java is because of a rise in calf birth rates through the artificial insemination program.

"The rise is around 10 percent or more than 1 million pregnant cows. Hence, it could be maximized," she added.

The higher cow population results in beef surplus stocks, making the province the cattle warehouse of Indonesia, she revealed.

The surplus stocks can also be delivered outside the province such as Jakarta, Central Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.

"We will have a surplus of around 30 thousand cattle if the beef needed for East Java would reach 377 thousand tons for this year," she added.

The beef price in East Java is still at a stable rate of around Rp90-120 and will not significantly rise during the upcoming fasting season, she asserted.

"Hopefully the price would remain stable even when the demand increases three to four times during the fasting season," she remarked.

Meanwhile, East Java Governor Soekarwo stated that the beef in his area had a surplus of around 30 thousand tons, which contribute to 22 percent of the overall national beef stocks.

The achievement has received the praise and appreciation from central government through Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman who said that East Java was an example for a province with self-sufficiency in beef stocks.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika