POULTRYINDONESIA, Jakarta – The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening national milk, egg, and meat production through targeted investment in the livestock subsector. Aceh has been designated as one of the priority development regions to support food security and the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program.
The commitment was conveyed during a meeting between the Ministry of Agriculture and a Malaysian investor, Vie Santi, which discussed plans to develop livestock farming in Aceh to supply domestic needs while also supporting the implementation of the MBG program.
Director General of Livestock and Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, Agung Suganda, explained that Indonesia is currently still facing a national milk supply deficit. Around 80 percent of domestic milk demand is still met through imports, mainly in the form of milk powder.
“Our priority going forward is to encourage investments that genuinely strengthen domestic production. Every meat and dairy product entering Indonesia must come from business units that have obtained government approval. All licensing recommendation processes at the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health are now conducted online,” Agung said at the Ministry of Agriculture office in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/12/2025).
In addition to dairy cattle development, the government is also preparing the establishment of an integrated poultry ecosystem from upstream to downstream to strengthen the supply of eggs and chicken meat, particularly in deficit regions such as Aceh, which has long depended on supplies from North Sumatra.
Starting in early 2026, the government plans to develop integrated poultry zones in 30 provinces, with the initial phase covering 13 provinces, including Aceh. This program will involve support from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) as providers of feed and day-old chicks, as well as acting as offtakers for production output.
“Nationally, Indonesia is already self-sufficient in eggs and chicken meat, but around 63 percent of production is still concentrated on Java. With support from the National Food Agency, we aim to improve logistics and encourage direct production in deficit regions. Partners from Malaysia are expected to contribute to strengthening production in Aceh, not only to meet local demand, but also potentially to export eggs and chicken meat to Malaysia in the future,” Agung explained.
From the investor’s side, Vie Santi outlined plans to supply milk powder specifically for the Aceh market and expressed interest in integrated investments in dairy cattle and layer poultry farming. She emphasized her company’s commitment to complying with all Indonesian regulations, including licensing, animal health standards, and food safety, while also opening opportunities for technology transfer and capacity building for local human resources.
“Indonesia has great potential to become a regional hub for livestock development, supported by a strong domestic market and adequate resources. We see opportunities to contribute through long-term investment. Within the framework of Indonesia–Malaysia cooperation, I am also ready to serve as a liaison with relevant ministries in Malaysia to facilitate coordination on livestock commodity trade and investment,” she said.
