Amid the economic recession, the agricultural sector grew 2.19 percent in Q2-2020 and 2.15 percent in Q3-2020. Contrastingly, the livestock sub-sector contracted by minus 1.84 percent in Q2-2020 and minus 0.16 percent in Q3- 2020 as the value-added was also depressed.
Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI), General TNI (Purn.). Dr. H. Moeldoko, SIP., who is also the Chief of Presidential Staff, revealed the above data in the online 2020 National Symposium on Animal Husbandry Research and Development organized by the Faculty of Animal Science UGM, Wednesday (16/12).
Moeldoko added that the decrease in people's purchasing power during the Covid-19 pandemic had hit the livestock sub-sector. As a response, actors in the field have tried hard to innovate in the entire livestock chain process, which is necessary to follow fast-moving changes in the strategic environment. He said the large livestock performance was quite good, yet not too spectacular.
“Although quite slowly, the increase in meat production is still positive. Beef cattle production in 2020 is around 422 thousand tons, while consumption is above 500 thousand tons. It suggests Indonesia must import to meet this need,” he said.
Dean of the Faculty of Animal Science UGM, Prof. Dr. Ir. Ali Agus, DAA., DEA., IPU., ASEAN. Eng said this occasion marked the 3rd symposium to commemorate the 51st Anniversary with the theme “Recent Livestock Innovations and Strategies to Support Sustainable Agricultural Development”. He said that innovation is the heart of progress in a business and industry, regardless of its type, including the livestock industry. According to Ali, the supply of livestock-derived foods for domestic needs is insufficient (many are still imported). Thus, innovation is a must to escalate the production capacity to meet the rising demand.
“This also provides an opportunity for the younger generation to enter the livestock industry, which is still very prospective,” said Ali.
Furthermore, Head of BNI Yogyakarta, Moh. Hisyam conveyed the strategy and importance of institutional support in terms of the capital aspect. Ir. Nafiatul Umami, S.Pt., M.P., Ph.D., IPM. ASEAN. Eng., a lecturer at the Animal Science Faculty, presented the development of forage innovation. Also, Dr. Simon Oosting from Wageningen University, the Netherlands, discussed various issues, such as global warming and integrated livestock systems to support sustainable agriculture.
Author: Satria
Photo: Fapet