REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, inaugurated the launch of a 'Beef Market Operation' to meet the increased demand for meat in view of the Idul Fitri celebrations after the fasting period ends.

"I herewith declare the launch of the Beef Market Operation," the Jakarta governor, who is also president-elect, said here on Thursday.

The beef market operation's launch was marked by the departure of 10 cars laden with frozen meat to transport the same to ten traditional markets.

"The meat market operation is aimed at supplying beef to consumers in the face of the Idul Fitri, or Lebaran festivities. Good quality beef is fairly cheap that most people find affordable," he said.

The offered price is relatively low compared to the regular price, and is between Rp60,000 and Rp85,000 per kg.

In the meantime, President Director of Jakarta's PD Pasar Jaya Market, Djangga Lubis, stated that the meat market operation began on July 24, 2014 and will continue until July 26, 2014.

"The beef market operation is being carried out in cooperation with PD Pasar Jaya and PD Dharma Raya Hutamajaya. A total of 20 tons of carcass will be distributed to all markets in four municipalities in Jakarta," he explained.

He said the beef offered to the public was meat with Herbeef trade mark. The meat came from grees fed produced by PT Dharma Raya Hutamajaya.

"Grees fed is a cattle type raised and grown in pastures. The cattle only feed on wild grass so that they are free from medicinal and chemical substance," he said.

The government has prepared some 170 thousand heads of cattle to meet the demand for meat during the fasting month of Ramadan and the post-fasting Idul Fitri or Lebaran festivities.

Agriculture Minister Suswono, during a visit to West Java last month, expressed his confidence that the demand 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.

Regarding the price of beef, which could increase, the agriculture minister said that the ideal price of beef now was about Rp86,000 per kg. If the price goes below that, it would affect breeders and that they would no longer be encouraged to run their cattle ranches.

Beef prices in a number of regions have increased in the face of the fasting month within the Rp100,000 to Rp130,000 per kg price band.

The highest price was found in Aceh Province, where a kilogram of meat is sold at Rp130,000.

The price of beef had increased and was expected to reach a range of Rp110,000 and Rp130,000 per kg, said Sofyanuddin, head of the Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Service of Aceh, on Thursday.

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