Government Drives Increase in Dairy Cow Population and Milk Consumption
The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the national dairy sector by increasing the dairy cow population, domestic milk production, and public milk consumption. These efforts are considered a vital part of supporting the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Programme, while simultaneously preparing a healthy, strong, and competitive Indonesian generation towards Indonesia Emas 20 Malaysia.
This commitment was stated by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sudaryono, during the commemoration of the 2026 Nusantara Milk Day (HSN) held at Ragunan Zoo, South Jakarta, on Saturday (6/6/2026). During the event, Sudaryono emphasised that milk is one of the best sources of animal protein, playing a crucial role in supporting physical growth and the cognitive development of Indonesian children. He noted that increasing milk consumption must become a collective movement due to its immense benefits for the quality of future human resources.
The Deputy Minister, affectionately known as Mas Dar, emphasised that developing the dairy sector is not merely about increasing production and economic growth; rather, strengthening the dairy industry is a long-term investment in Indonesia’s human resource development. He explained that, in line with the directives of President Prabowo Subianto, meeting the nutritional needs of the community, particularly children, is a strategic government priority. The implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Programme is seen as a significant momentum to revitalise the national dairy sector.
According to Sudaryono, the government is currently focusing on two main agendas: increasing national milk production and expanding milk consumption, especially among children. He noted that while some milk production is still imported, the government aims to increase the number of dairy cows through imports and raise per capita milk consumption.
Sudaryono also shared his personal experience as the son of a farmer from Grobogan, Central Java, noting the direct benefits he has experienced from milk consumption since childhood. He used his personal growth as evidence to counter negative views regarding the MBG programme and milk consumption. Furthermore, he highlighted that President Prabowo Subianto has long advocated for nutritional fulfilment, having previously initiated the ‘White Revolution Movement’ focused on improving public nutrition.
Regarding production, Sudaryono acknowledged that the primary challenge facing Indonesia is the limited number of breeding cows, particularly dairy cows. While reproductive technology and seed availability are deemed adequate, the live livestock population needs to be significantly increased to meet national demand. To address this, the government is encouraging the involvement of private investors and State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) to import dairy cows from various countries. Several investment commitments involving thousands of cattle are already underway. He added that dairy farming should be developed in highland areas with cool climates, such as Lembang, Boyolali, Baturaden, Pasuruan, and Blitar, which hold great potential as national dairy centres.