Disaster-Affected Residents in Agam Begin Purchasing Meat Ahead of Ramadan
Dozens of residents in Nagari Sungai Batang, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, who were affected by flash floods and landslides, have been enthusiastically purchasing fresh beef ahead of the holy month of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah/2026.
"Every year, the community here routinely buys fresh beef ahead of the fasting month," said Warman, a resident of Nagari Sungai Batang, Tanjung Raya District, Agam Regency, on Sunday.
Warman said the beef purchases were in preparation for entering the fasting month and had become a local custom and tradition. Beyond Ramadan needs, the fresh beef is also required for the Manjalang Mintuo tradition.
Manjalang Mintuo is a custom practised by the Minangkabau people, in which the wife's family prepares and presents rendang, cakes, and various dishes to the in-laws one week before the start of the holy month of Ramadan.
"I bought three kilogrammes of meat earlier for communal meals with relatives during sahur and breaking of fast," said Warman.
Similarly, Asri, another resident, said he had come specifically from Jorong Bancah, Nagari Sungai Batang, to purchase several kilogrammes of beef for pre-Ramadan needs and the Manjalang Mintuo tradition.
"Before every fasting month and Eid al-Fitr, the community here and I always buy fresh beef for sahur meals, breaking of fast, and Manjalang Mintuo," said Asri.
He expressed gratitude that despite the ongoing post-disaster recovery, local residents could still obtain beef supplies brought by traders from Bukittinggi.
"We are grateful that traders still come here to sell beef. Otherwise, we would have to travel to Lubuk Basung or Bukittinggi to shop," he said.
Meanwhile, beef trader Taufik said he had been selling seasonal beef for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr needs in Nagari Sungai Batang for the past ten years. Before the disaster struck, Taufik could sell around 500 kilogrammes of beef, or two adult cattle. However, post-disaster sales had dropped dramatically, with him only managing to sell 250 kilogrammes.
"Sales are certainly not as high as before the disaster, but thankfully the residents' economic activity is beginning to recover," he said.
"Every year, the community here routinely buys fresh beef ahead of the fasting month," said Warman, a resident of Nagari Sungai Batang, Tanjung Raya District, Agam Regency, on Sunday.
Warman said the beef purchases were in preparation for entering the fasting month and had become a local custom and tradition. Beyond Ramadan needs, the fresh beef is also required for the Manjalang Mintuo tradition.
Manjalang Mintuo is a custom practised by the Minangkabau people, in which the wife's family prepares and presents rendang, cakes, and various dishes to the in-laws one week before the start of the holy month of Ramadan.
"I bought three kilogrammes of meat earlier for communal meals with relatives during sahur and breaking of fast," said Warman.
Similarly, Asri, another resident, said he had come specifically from Jorong Bancah, Nagari Sungai Batang, to purchase several kilogrammes of beef for pre-Ramadan needs and the Manjalang Mintuo tradition.
"Before every fasting month and Eid al-Fitr, the community here and I always buy fresh beef for sahur meals, breaking of fast, and Manjalang Mintuo," said Asri.
He expressed gratitude that despite the ongoing post-disaster recovery, local residents could still obtain beef supplies brought by traders from Bukittinggi.
"We are grateful that traders still come here to sell beef. Otherwise, we would have to travel to Lubuk Basung or Bukittinggi to shop," he said.
Meanwhile, beef trader Taufik said he had been selling seasonal beef for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr needs in Nagari Sungai Batang for the past ten years. Before the disaster struck, Taufik could sell around 500 kilogrammes of beef, or two adult cattle. However, post-disaster sales had dropped dramatically, with him only managing to sell 250 kilogrammes.
"Sales are certainly not as high as before the disaster, but thankfully the residents' economic activity is beginning to recover," he said.