Jakarta: Indonesia is seeking to strengthen dairy self-sufficiency, with around 80 per cent of domestic milk demand still being met through imports. Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said Indonesia produces only about one million tonnes of milk annually against domestic demand of four million tonnes, leaving the country heavily dependent on imported supplies.

According to Nam News Network, Hanif noted that since the 1920s, investment has flowed into Indonesia to help meet the country's milk needs, with the sector experiencing rapid growth between 2000 and 2020. Despite this growth, the sector remains heavily oriented towards imports. Hanif expressed concern that this dependence could pose risks to national food security, especially during global geopolitical disruptions affecting supplies from major exporting countries.

To address the issue, Hanif stated that the government is promoting the development of an integrated dairy ecosystem covering the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors to increase domestic production and strengthen supply chains. Efforts will include expanding livestock populations, improving productivity, strengthening research and innovation, and enhancing the capacity of milk-processing industries to build a more competitive and sustainable national dairy sector.

Hanif emphasized that strengthening the dairy sector is also crucial for supporting the development of quality human capital needed to achieve Indonesia's Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. Adequate nutrition is deemed essential for the country's future workforce.