Dharma Jaya Fast-Tracks 7,500 Cattle Imports

Perumda Dharma Jaya is accelerating the procurement of 7,500 imported cattle as a preemptive measure to safeguard Jakarta’s food security. This strategic move is being implemented to mitigate potential global supply chain disruptions caused by geopolitical dynamics and climate change.

Current challenges include limited shipping vessel availability

Perumda Dharma Jaya President Director, Raditya Endra Budiman stated that the accelerated procurement serves as a mitigation strategy against potential global distribution bottlenecks, particularly for imported commodities.

“Our primary concern regarding imported beef is the potential shortage of raw materials. Current challenges include limited shipping vessel availability, potential fuel shortages, and exporting countries beginning to prioritize domestic stocks for their own needs,” he noted, Thursday (5/7).

Dharma Jaya Sets Strategy to Bolster Jakarta Food Security

Consequently, he added, Dharma Jaya is leveraging the current relatively stable conditions to expedite stock acquisition.

“Since the situation is still relatively mild, we are aggressively procuring stock. While we previously planned to purchase 500 head of cattle, we are doubling that to 1,000 head starting next month,” he explained.

Raditya detailed that the procurement target of 7,500 cattle is being executed in phases. To date, approximately 1,500 cattle have arrived in three shipments, with an additional 1,000 scheduled to arrive shortly. This will bring the immediate total to 2,500, while the remaining 5,000 are being prioritized for earlier delivery.

“My objective is to complete the full procurement of 7,500 cattle by June or July. However, deliveries can't be made all at once as shipping slots are highly contested among various vendors. We must compete for shipping schedules to Indonesia,” he clarified.

Beyond strengthening imported stocks, Dharma Jaya is also intensifying the development of local cattle supplies as a strategy to diversify food sources.

“We are also exploring ways to strengthen food security through local cattle. We have long-established partnerships with cattle-producing regions, and we are now scaling up these collaborations,” he said.

Regarding poultry, he ensured that the chicken supply remains relatively stable and self-sufficient. Dharma Jaya is also preparing follow-up measures to reinforce supplies post-Eid al-Adha.

“I hope this accelerated procurement will stabilize both supply and food prices in Jakarta, while simultaneously enhancing our readiness to face potential global food distribution disruptions,” he added.

Earlier, Governor Pramono Anung emphasized that the Jakarta government continues to strengthen its food security system through inter-regional cooperation with food-producing areas, alongside the accelerated procurement of strategic commodities, including meat.

"For rice and other commodities, we have established effective cooperation with regional governments. However, we must address the impact of El Niño in those regions. The Jakarta government will provide assistance, such as water pumps and other equipment, to ensure production remains stable,” he added.

Regarding meat requirements, the Jakarta government has approved an increase in cattle imports from Australia by Perumda Dharma Jaya to ensure stock availability.

“For meat, I have approved Dharma Jaya's request to increase cattle imports from Australia. Approximately 3,000 head have already arrived, and the current target is 7,500. I have authorized the immediate entry of these stocks. It is far better to have the inventory secured in Jakarta than to have it waiting overseas,” he asserted.