PALMOILMAGAZINE, BOGOR — Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) is intensifying efforts to integrate the plantation and livestock subsectors through the Palm–Cattle Integration System (SISKA) program. The initiative forms a key component of the government’s broader strategy to achieve national food self-sufficiency, particularly in beef production.
This commitment was highlighted during a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on “Accelerating SISKA as a Pillar of Food Security Toward Beef Self-Sufficiency and a Sustainable Palm Oil Industry” held in Bogor.
Director General of Livestock and Animal Health, Agung Suganda, emphasized that SISKA is not a new concept but a strategic initiative that now requires accelerated implementation. He noted that the current period offers strong momentum, as President Prabowo Subianto continues to push for food sovereignty across multiple commodities.
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“This program has been running for years but hasn’t reached its full potential. Now is the time to accelerate. We’ve achieved self-sufficiency in rice and corn and even a surplus in poultry. It’s time to focus on beef self-sufficiency,” Agung told beige-heron-208544.hostingersite.com in an official statement on Thursday (Oct 30, 2025).
According to Agung, integrating palm plantations with cattle farming offers a strategic and efficient solution. With a total oil palm plantation area of 16.8 million hectares, the subsector provides a vast resource for feed and livestock development. Through this integration model, Indonesia can boost cattle populations while reducing waste, improving land productivity, and supporting local community welfare.
The Ministry has identified around 1.5 million hectares of potential land suitable for cattle farming under this scheme. However, Agung stressed that success will depend on cross-sector collaboration and a robust regulatory framework.
“The palm–cattle integration is a national strategy for food security. By linking these two subsectors, we’re not only increasing cattle numbers but also building an efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable business system,” he said.
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Acting Director General of Plantations, Abdul Roni Angkat, reaffirmed his agency’s full commitment to collaborating with the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health. He described SISKA as an essential part of Indonesia’s “protein self-sufficiency” vision—complementing how the plantation sector has already supported energy independence through biodiesel.
“We will soon issue a circular to all plantation stakeholders, urging them to implement palm–cattle integration to optimize land use,” Abdul Roni affirmed.
From a research and innovation perspective, Windu Negara from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) underscored that the SISKA program is not a sectoral initiative but a national priority.
“This is not a partial effort. The government, associations, and industry players must view it as a shared responsibility to ensure national food security, especially for animal protein,” Windu stated.
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Through this FGD, the MoA aims to strengthen coordination among institutions, associations, and private stakeholders to accelerate policy development, foster partnerships between palm oil companies and farmers, and ensure that technical aspects—such as soil health and disease control—are effectively managed.
With this strategy, the government is optimistic that the palm–cattle integration system will become a driving force in strengthening Indonesia’s food security and supporting the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045. (P2)
