Demand for meat set to soar

Demand for meat set to soar

JAKARTA (JP): How many cattle will be consumed by 8.6 million
Jakartans during the Ramadhan fasting month which began on
Monday?

Some 19,500, officials said.

Head of the City Livestock Agency's slaughtering section Hery
Indyanto said on Monday that most of the cattle were being
imported from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United
States.

"We need a total of 19,500 cows to meet the market demand
during the fasting month until Idul Fitri. For each 20 days we
will distribute some 2437.5 tons of beef in the five mayoralties
of the capital," Hery, who is also a veterinarian, said.

He admitted that the price of meat is expected to increase
slightly in the markets in anticipation of the holiday period.

For imported meat the price will be around Rp 27,000 (US$2.9)
to Rp 30,000 per kilogram. The current market price is about Rp
26,000 per kilogram.

For local meat the price will be around Rp 32,000 to Rp 35,000
per kilogram. Local meat is currently selling in the markets for
around Rp 27,000.

Local meat is more expensive due to the limited supply. About
70 percent of the meat supply is imported.

Hery further said that the capital was expected to consume
some 425 tons of chicken during the month, most of which will be
imported from the United States.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul
Kahfi said that Governor Sutiyoso had ordered the direct supply
of basic needs in all central markets in the capital to push
prices down. (dja)