Beef Imports to Cover Shortfall In Domestic Supply: Minister

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Agriculture Ministry said the decision to import beef is only to make up for shortfall in domestic supply and create price stability.

The government has decided to increase supply of beef through market operation and assigned a state company to import live cows ready for slaughtering, secretary general of the ministry Hari Priyono said.

Hari said the state -owned Board of Logistics (Bulog) has been asked to import live cows .

Beef price has soared lately causing caused big uproar and speculators and importers have been blamed for holding stocks from the market.

Police have even stepped in to launch investigation into alleged speculation and threatened to slap speculators with criminal charge.

The ministry has also made impromptu inspection to feed-lot operators suspected of holding stocks.

The country has imported feedlot cow mainly from Australia but the government has cut imports from the neighboring country lately to protect domestic livestock farming industry. (WDY)