As Eid al-Adha approaches, Indonesia's livestock markets are bustling with buyers seeking animals for the traditional sacrifice.
by Nurul Fitri Ramadhani
JAKARTA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Eid al-Adha in Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population, will fall on Monday, June 17. As this sacred festivity approaches, Indonesia's livestock markets are bustling with buyers seeking animals for the traditional sacrifice.
On Eid al-Adha day, Indonesian Muslims typically perform communal sacrifices of cows, goats or sheep. Later in the afternoon, they distribute the meat among impoverished communities in their local areas.
The festive season spells prosperity for seasonal vendors who sell livestock exclusively for the holiday. Despite their annual sales window, they can rake in profits ranging from tens to hundreds of millions of Indonesian rupiahs.
Hikmah Djaelani, a seasonal livestock seller in Cikarang, West Java province, said he made more money this year compared to last year. Since starting sales in mid-May, he has sold 12 cattle, 23 goats and 32 sheep, netting over 100 million rupiahs (approximately 6,063 U.S. dollars).
"Thanks to God, although I only sell livestocks once a year, the income is usually enough to sustain my family for almost one year," said the 47-year-old who otherwise works in a farm and feeds the animals, from which he only earns less than 500,000 rupiahs every month.
Goats typically fetch between 3 million to 5 million rupiahs, and sheep are priced from 4 million to 6 million rupiahs, with the cost varying based on their weight. Smaller cattle range from 17 million to 25 million rupiahs and usually weigh between 200-400 kg. Larger breeds, like the Limousin cattle, weighing between 600 to 800 kg, can command prices upwards of 45 million rupiahs.
Tatang Sutisna, a cattle farmer in Jakarta, said that he doubled his sales during this year's Eid al-Adha season compared to the last, earning a profit in the billions of rupiahs.
"More people are conducting sacrifices this year. This might suggest an improvement in purchasing power despite inflation and the rising costs of commodities and logistics," said Sutisna in Jakarta. His farm is situated in Garut, West Java, yet he markets his cattle in Central Jakarta.
Several local media outlets have noted an increase in livestock sales for sacrifice across most Indonesian cities, with each animal market averaging transactions worth 6 billion rupiahs.
In metropolitan areas, livestock purchases have been simplified through mobile applications, offering greater convenience for buyers.
The Indonesian government announced last Thursday that the country has a surplus of sacrificial livestock. According to the Ministry of Agriculture's data, national livestock stocks reached 2.06 million, surpassing the estimated demand of 1.97 million.
Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman stated that the government is also rigorously overseeing animal health.
"We've assessed livestock needs for all regions in Indonesia. Should there be a shortage in certain areas, we're prepared to implement anticipatory measures by reallocating supplies from regions with surpluses to those facing deficits," he said. (1 Indonesian rupiah equals 0.000061 USD)■
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