Feed prices may decrease

JAKARTA (JP): The Directorate General of Animal Husbandry, the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) and the Association of Animal Feed Producers will hold a meeting here this week to discuss measures to lower feed prices on the domestic market.

"The meeting is expected to reach agreement on lowering the price of animal feed to fair levels which can be accepted by both producers and consumers," Director General of Husbandry Soehadji told reporters here on Saturday.

He was quoted by Antara as saying that the government's recent decision to allow animal feed producers to import more soybean meal -- the main material for feed production -- would push down the prices of animal feed.

Under the new policy, the government has allowed feed producers to import up to 80 percent, as compared with the previous 70 percent, of soybean meal used in production.

Soehadji did not reveal the what would be on the agenda at this week's meeting.(04)