Indonesia lifts quotas on live cattle to support the growth of its dairy sector

INDONESIA – The Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, has announced that Indonesia has officially lifted its import quotas on live cattle in a strategic move to bolster national food security and revitalize the dairy sector.

The government expects this liberalisation to enhance the resilience of domestic supply chains and improve production outcomes across the livestock and dairy industries.

The removal of import limits is also intended to support the domestic dairy processing industry, enabling increased production and improved product quality in line with rising national demand.

“We’re now fully opening up live cattle imports, whether for beef, fattening, or dairy purposes. It’s unrestricted. There are no more quotas,” Zulkifli said.

The policy aligns closely with the broader food security strategy of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, particularly the implementation of a nationwide free school meal programme.

This initiative, which targets children and young people, has sharply increased demand for milk and meat, making it essential to ensure a stable and affordable supply, experts claimed.

The announcement comes days after Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono revealed that Indonesia plans to import up to 2 million live cattle over the next five years. Of that number, 1.2 million will be dedicated to dairy production, and 800,000 to the beef supply.

For 2025 alone, the government has targeted importing 250,000 cattle to meet both meat and milk demand.

Indonesia launches milk facility

Recently, Indonesia has opened a new pasteurized milk processing facility in Sumedang, West Java, to boost the government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program.

The facility, operated by the Nusa Dairy Indonesia Farm, is a key step in ensuring a steady supply of milk for the nationwide initiative launched by President Prabowo Subianto.

The MBG program seeks to provide free, nutritious meals to millions of schoolchildren and pregnant women, addressing malnutrition and stunting, which affect over 20% of Indonesian children under five, according to a report by the World Health Organization. 

“This initiative ensures our children get quality nutrition while giving farmers a stable market,” said Cooperatives Minister Budi Arie Setiadi during the facility’s opening ceremony. 

The ministry expects the plant to produce up to 150 liters of pasteurized milk daily, with plans to scale up as demand grows.

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