Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — In an effort to stabilize animal feed supplies, Indonesia plans to import wheat as an alternative to corn, following the government’s ban on corn imports since March 2024. The announcement was made by Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, who emphasized that wheat offers a more cost-effective solution for livestock farmers.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, January 7, 2025, Zulkifli Hasan, commonly known as Zulhas, clarified that the imported wheat will be specifically designated for animal feed, not for general consumption.
“We have agreed that wheat will serve as a substitute for corn in animal feed. This wheat is intended strictly for livestock feed, not for general consumption. It’s cheaper,” Zulhas said, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
The decision is pending further discussions in a limited coordination meeting (Rakortas), where officials will determine the exact volume of wheat imports to prevent oversupply in the domestic market. An oversupply could risk undermining local corn farmers, whose crops might go unsold.
“If we agree on importing wheat, it must be carefully regulated in a limited coordination meeting. We must ensure that local corn farmers’ harvests remain prioritized,” Zulhas added.
Wheat Imports Regulations
The government also plans to tighten control over wheat imports specifically for feed purposes. Zulhas stressed that the regulation aims to safeguard the motivation of local farmers to continue planting corn and to secure domestic supply.
Indonesia currently imports nearly 100% of its wheat for food industry needs, primarily for flour production. The introduction of wheat imports for animal feed is seen as a strategic measure to address rising feed costs while maintaining local corn production for feed purposes.
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“We hope domestic corn production will increase, as prices remain favorable for farmers. You can see corn being planted along roadsides now. Of course, we must ensure farmers’ harvests are purchased,” Zulhas said.
The wheat import plan is expected to alleviate pressure on livestock farmers facing rising feed costs. With cheaper wheat available, feed production costs are anticipated to decrease, ultimately benefiting livestock product prices in the market.
(Raidi/Agung)
