Indonesia to Import 200,000 Dairy Cows to Support Free Nutritious Meal Program

JAKARTA, investortrust.id – The Ministry of Agriculture has announced plans to import 200,000 dairy cows by the end of 2025 to meet the milk supply needs of the government’s Free Nutritious Meal Program, known as MBG in short.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono revealed that a government regulation enabling the import of dairy cows from multiple countries has been finalized. While Australia has traditionally been a primary source, the new policy expands sourcing to additional nations.

“This regulation has just been completed, allowing us to import dairy cows from countries beyond Australia. By the end of 2025, we aim to bring in 200,000 cows,” Sudaryono stated at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

According to Sudaryono, 160 companies—both domestic and international—have committed to the procurement process. “Some companies are bringing in smaller batches of 200 cows, but we will accommodate all of them,” he added.

To house the imported livestock, the ministry is accelerating the provision of farmland. Sudaryono stressed that the initiative should not be viewed as a step toward making Indonesia reliant on imports but as a strategic investment to boost domestic milk production capacity.

“This is not about making Indonesia an importing country. It’s about investment. These cows will support the establishment of fresh milk factories within Indonesia,” he explained.

The import plan aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision for the MBG program, which seeks to provide milk as a key component of nutritious meals for students and beneficiaries. However, Indonesia’s current reliance on imported milk has constrained the program’s ability to include milk on a broad scale.

“President Prabowo wants milk to be available to everyone, but our supply is currently entirely reliant on imports. Until the dairy cows arrive and domestic production ramps up, alternative protein sources will be used,” Sudaryono noted.

 

The dairy cow imports aim to reduce Indonesia’s dependence on milk imports by enabling local production. The initiative is expected to establish a sustainable supply chain, ensuring long-term food security and supporting the success of the MBG program.

“We see this as a pivotal investment in Indonesia’s agriculture and food security sectors,” Sudaryono concluded.