REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SAMARINDA -- Arrival of cattle from Australia to East Kalimantan which was planned on 13th October, was postponed until 23rd October. It was because the license for realization of central government's aid should be revised.
"Technical errors in licensing of interstate commerce is already overcame. So, it is not a problem. The cattle are planned to be dispatched by ships from Australia on 15th October and arrive in Balikpapan on 23rd October," said Head of the Animal Husbandry Department of East Kalimantan, Dada Sudarya, in Balikpapan, Wednesday (14/10).
Dada continued, 10 thousand Brahman Cross (BC) cattle of Australia was aid from Ministry of Agriculture. The funds were from the State Budget Amendment 2015 for farmers in East Kalimantan.
The cattle would come into East Kalimantan in four stages. The first stage was in 23rd October as much as 2110 heads, while the next three stages will be in every two weeks.
"Previously it was planned that there will be 10 percent of male cattle, but there were changes, so that all 10 thousand cattle will be female," he explained.
The budget Kaltim in 2015 has allocate funds for the purchase of 950 male and female cattle. It aimed for breeding program, the development of beef cattle, and other programs.
"Procurement of cattle is to support the realization of the program of two million heads of cattle in 2018," he added.
He believed the program of two million cattle can be realized because it is supported by many parties. It included support from the State Budget, district/municipal, oil companies, mining companies, investors livestock, farmers, and a number of banks that extend credit to the farm.