Non-Prospering Policy

Beef imports are often sought after to maintain price stability in the market. However, is it a proper policy?

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Beef traders are sorting meat requested by buyers at the Jatinegara Market, East Jakarta, Sunday (9/10/2022). To stabilize prices and supply of meat towards the end of 2022 to early 2023, the government is importing 20,000 tons of frozen buffalo meat from India and 20,000 tons of frozen beef from Brazil.

Every year, when a festive season approaches, beef prices skyrocket as demand increases. Based on the National Food Agency's price panel, the average retail price of beef rose from Rp 134,450 to Rp 135,560 per kilogram during the 17-24 March, 2023, period.

The price of whole beef, or daging sapi murni, was Rp 125,950 per kg in January 2022, before it rose to Rp 134,780 per kg when Idul Fitri fell in the following May. As in the previous years, the government carried on with beef import permits last year. Starting in 2016, the government has also brought in frozen buffalo meat from India.