Dairy Farmers Moved, Minister of Agriculture Amran Responds Quickly to Milk Polemic”/>MINISTER of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman succeeded in mediating a meeting between dairy farmers and the milk processing industry in an effort to resolve the polemic about local milk absorption.
This quick step by the Ministry of Agriculture was greeted with gratitude and excitement by the farmers.
One of the milk collectors from Pasuruan, Bayu Aji Handayanto, who had staged an action to throw milk as a form of protest, could not hold back his tears when the farmer’s aspirations were finally heard and responded to by the government.
Bayu was touched by the attention given to the fate of local breeders.
“On behalf of dairy farmers in the villages, I am very touched because today we feel like we have a new father in the world of cattle farming. “Our aspirations were heard by the Minister of Agriculture, and the Minister of State Secretary and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture were also present,” said Bayu after the audience at the Ministry of Agriculture Head Office, Jakarta, Monday (11/11).
During the hearing, the Ministry of Agriculture agreed to a policy requiring the milk processing industry to absorb milk from local farmers. This step is good news for farmers, considering that milk has also been included in the list of Basic Necessities and Important Goods (Bapokting), which will strengthen protection for local farmers.
“Everything went smoothly. We were very moved because our struggle was responded to quickly. Our demands were not only accommodated, but even exceeded our expectations. “Thank you to the government, especially the Minister of Agriculture and Mr President Prabowo,” added Bayu.
Bayu also expressed the farmer’s commitment to improving the quality of local milk.
He said that the quality of the milk they produce meets national standards, although it is still below the quality of imported milk.
“We are committed to improving quality. “The Minister of Agriculture also promised that there would be further guidance from the industry to help improve the quality of domestic milk,” he said.
Previously, a number of farmers and collectors protested due to restrictions on milk absorption by the industry.
Responding to this problem, the Ministry of Agriculture immediately took quick steps by bringing together breeders and industry to find the best solution.
“We hope that industry together with the government will intervene in developing breeders and help improve the quality of domestic milk. “This is in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision, who requested that the government be present as a mediator to support joint growth between industry and livestock breeders,” said Minister of Agriculture Amran.
With this mediation, it is hoped that dairy farmers can continue to grow and develop along with industry and government support in improving the quality and competitiveness of local milk. (RO/Z-10)
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What were the main concerns discussed by Bayu and his fellow farmers during the meeting with the Minister of Agriculture?
**Interview with Bayu Aji Handayanto, Dairy Farmer from Pasuruan**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Bayu. Can you share with us how you and your fellow farmers felt after the recent meeting with the Minister of Agriculture?
**Bayu:** Thank you for having me. Honestly, I was overwhelmed with emotion. After so much uncertainty and frustration, it felt like we finally had someone in our corner. When Minister Amran listened to us, I couldn’t help but tear up—our voices were finally being heard.
**Editor:** That sounds incredibly moving. What were some of the key issues you brought to the Minister’s attention?
**Bayu:** We expressed our concerns about how local milk was being absorbed by the processing industry. Many of us were struggling to get fair prices, and it felt insurmountable at times. We needed assurance that our milk would be valued and purchased directly, rather than being overlooked in favor of imports.
**Editor:** What was the response from the government during the meeting?
**Bayu:** The response exceeded our expectations. The Ministry of Agriculture committed to a policy that requires the milk processing industry to source from local farmers, which is a game-changer for us. It shows that the government recognizes the importance of supporting local dairy farming.
**Editor:** How do you envision the future of dairy farming in your community after this meeting?
**Bayu:** I believe this is the start of a new chapter for us. With the government’s commitment and support, I hope that our livelihoods will improve. We can work with confidence, knowing that our products will be valued. We feel like we have a strong support system now.
**Editor:** That’s wonderful to hear. Any final thoughts you’d like to share with your fellow farmers and the public?
**Bayu:** I want to remind my fellow farmers to stay hopeful. We must continue to advocate for our rights and work together. We’ve seen that our efforts can lead to change. Thank you to the government for listening to us and standing by our side.
**Editor:** Thank you, Bayu, for sharing your experience and insights with us today. Your dedication to the dairy farming community is truly inspiring.
