Bandarlampung (ANTARA News) - A member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) Anang Prihantoro urges the Agriculture Ministry to take strategic and well planned steps to achieve self sufficiency in beef.

Indonesia is rich in natural resources needed to achieve the target, the senator from Lampung said here on Wednesday.

"The soaring price of beef lately should serve as a momentum to boost development of cattle farms," he said commenting on a hearing held by DPD with the Animal Husbandry Director General, the Plantation Director General, and the Food Crop Director in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Anang said the government should cooperate with the private sector with the growing number of large private companies investing in cattle farms.

"Human resources are sufficiently available in the private sector to develop modern cattle farming," he said.

He said DPD is not against imports but imports should be intended to develop cattle farms in the country by importing breeders cows," he said.

Anang also asked the Agriculture Ministry to evaluate the program of integration of oil palm plantations and beef cattle farms.

"If the program is commercially beneficial it should be implemented immediately," he said. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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