E Kalimantan Set To Be Self Sufficient In Meat Supply

Samarinda, Nov 27 (Antara) - The East Kalimantan provincial administration said it has a set a target for its goat/sheep population at 52,330 in 2015 to contribute to its ambition to be self sufficient in meat supply. Goats will make up 52,100 of the population and sheep 230 with livestock farms in 10 regencies, head of the provincial animal husbandry office Dadang Sudarya said here on Thursday. Dadang gave no figure for the total population at present but in 2013, the population of goats and sheep in East Kaliamantan and North Kalimantan totaled 62,775. That year, North Kalimantan was still part of East Kaliamantan. Together with the new province the population of goats and sheep is forecast to reach 64,060 in 2015. Dadang said said the target set by East Kalimantan if achieved would help contribute to self sufficiency in meat supply in the province. He said the prospects of investment in livestock farms with any kind of livestock are encouraging in East Kalimantan as per capita consumption of meat in the province is relatively high. The local livestock farms have not been able to meet local requirement , he said. Currently the largest goat population in the province is in Samarinda reaching 10,560 . East Kalimantan has also set its target for cow population at 2 million in 2018. The target would be reached by phases and would involve the private sector, Dadang said earlier. The plan was in 2014 we will procure 100,000 cows for breeding and in 2015 through 2018 annual procurement would be 475,000 cows, he said. Procurement would be financed with funds from the state budget, provincial and district budget, and bank loans and support from the mining and oil palm plantation companies, he said. He said in 2014 , procurement would include 2,500 cows by the provincial administration, 1,250 cows by state budget, 7,500 cows by 15 regencies/municipalities, 12,500 with credits from Bank Kaltim, which is owned by the regional administration, 7,500 cows with credits from state lender BRI , 12,500 cows in contribution from mining companies, and 56,250 cows under the integrated oil palm plantation-cow breeding program. In 2015 through 2018 annual procurement will include 11,875 cows by the provincial administration, 5,938 cows with the state budget fund, 35,625 cows by budget funds of 15 district/city administrations, 59,375 cows with credit from Bank Kaltim, 35,625 cows with credits from BRI , 59,375 cows in contribution from local mining companies and 267,188 cows under the integrated oil palm-cow breeding program . In East Kalimantan, there are many large mining especially coal and oil and gas mining companies and oil palm plantation companies. Meanwhile, the provincial administration would encourage small livestock farmers by offering them high quality breeders and training in modern farming, Dadang said. The regional administration also wants to invited investors in livestock farming hoping that East Kalimantan could become a supplier of beef for other regions in the country. Indonesia has been a major importer of beef and live cows mainly from Australia.