Magelang Set to Become a New Dairy Hub with Support from Central Java Provincial Government
Central Java Deputy Governor Taj Yasin Maimoen said animal health is a key consideration in developing dairy farming. Growth in livestock numbers must be matched by efforts to maintain animal health and prevent the spread of disease.
“We also support milk self-sufficiency. The provincial government is ensuring that breeding can be developed,” Taj Yasin said in a written statement on Friday (30 October 2026).
He made the remarks while representing Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi and accompanying Deputy Minister of Agriculture Muhammad Saleh Mustafa on a working visit to the dairy centre in Sumberejo Village, Ngablak District, Magelang Regency, on Friday (30 October).
One measure taken by the Central Java provincial government is its Healing (Mobile Animal Health) programme. The programme brings animal-health services closer to farmers and has reached 13 regencies and cities in the province.
“If there are cows that may be at risk of disease, this can be coordinated with us in Central Java Province. We are ready to provide treatment and prevention,” said Taj Yasin, who is commonly known as Gus Yasin.
The support builds on Central Java’s potential as one of Indonesia’s milk-producing regions. In 2025, the province had 77,566 dairy cattle and produced around 75,366 tonnes of milk. Its contribution was 9.66% of national milk output, placing it third nationally.
In addition to developing established livestock centres such as Boyolali and Klaten, the provincial government is seeking to open new production areas in Magelang, Batang and Brebes. Development plans take account of land suitability, water and feed availability, and market access.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Muhammad Saleh Mustafa said Magelang Regency had the potential to become a dairy centre and contribute to the national milk self-sufficiency target. His ministry would propose Magelang as a pilot project for dairy development.
“President’s message is that we must achieve milk self-sufficiency. This is the hardest target, but we will give it a try,” Saleh said.
Saleh said dairy development could not rely on regional potential alone. Infrastructure, human resources and farmers’ organisations also needed to be ready.
He particularly highlighted cooperatives as a way to strengthen farmers’ position. Strong organisations are important to improve farmers’ bargaining power and reduce their dependence on intermediaries when marketing their produce.
Magelang Regent Grengseng Pamuji said the area had agro-climatic conditions conducive to dairy farming. Eight districts were suitable, and Ngablak was among the areas where a livestock ecosystem had already developed.
However, dairy farming in Magelang still faces challenges, particularly the small cattle population and the limited production capacity of cooperatives. The regency currently has two dairy farmers’ cooperatives, Sapto Argo and Amarto.
Each cooperative produces less than 2,000 litres, below the volume required to supply milk directly to dairy processing companies. As a result, farmers still rely on intermediaries to sell their milk, affecting the prices they receive.
Grengseng said he hoped dairy development in Magelang would focus not only on increasing herd numbers and production, but also on improving cooperative management and strengthening partnerships with dairy processors.