REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Agriculture Minister Suswono said he was ready to summon meat importers to ask for their responsibility if meat prices are increasing in the market.

"If the price increases suddenly we should summon the importers and ask for their responsibility," the minister said when observing a slaughter cattle breeding and abattoir in Subang, West Java, over the weekend.

He made the remark in response to consumers' complaints about the high prices of meat in the market in the current fasting month, which could reach up to Rp100,000 per kg.

However, the minister also explained that when inspecting traditional markets in a number of regions he found that the price of beef tended to go down, and in the Caringin market in Bandung, West Java, the price of beef is about Rp87,000 per kg.

Yet, he also admitted that the downward trend in the beef prices had not yet taken place evenly in the country where in a number of markets the prices of beef were still high.

Touching on the meat stock in the face of the post-fasting Lebaran festivities, the minister said it was adequate, including stocks at slaughter houses.

"There are a lot of meat stocks at abattoirs which are ready for sale and distribution to consumers during the Lebaran festivities," he said.

The minister guaranteed that meat stocks this year were better than those of last year. The government assured consumers would not run short of beef during the Lebaran holidays and its price would not increase.

On the occasion, the minister called on the public not to panic and buy a large stock to be stored at home as it would adversely fuel price increases.

In the meantime, abattoir PT Bina Mentari Tunggal's President Director Juan Permata Adoe said the meat price in the market should be at a range of Rp80,000 per kg.

He said that meat sold by traders in the market terraces usually had high prices.

"Meat sold inside the market is cheaper. Traders outside the market usually buy the meat inside the market and sell it in the terraces with a higher price," he said.

Juan said his company sold meat to traders with a price of Rp68,000 per kg and they would resell it a price of Rp80,000 - Rp85,000 per kg.

The government has prepared about 170 thousands of cattle to meet the need for beef during the fasting month which begins on Sunday, June 29, 2014 (the country's second largest Muslim organization has started fasting on Saturday, June 28).

The current fasting month will end on July 27, and the Lebaran Festivities will fall on July 28 - 29.

Suswono, during a visit to West Java expressed his confidence that the need for meat during the fasting month would be met. With a stock of 170,000 heads of cows, supplies of meat during the fasting month and the Lebaran festivities will be adequate.

"Therefore, we appeal to the public not to panic and rush to the market to purchase meat exceeding their daily needs. Panic buying will only scale up prices.

The public should, therefore, purchase beef based on their daily needs," the agriculture minister said when visiting the Caringin Wholesale Market in Bandung, West Java, recently.

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