Govt Accelerate Indonesian Dairy Industry through National Milk Day 2026

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is leveraging the 2026 National Milk Day celebration to accelerate the strengthening of the national dairy industry, focusing on boosting milk consumption and reducing dependence on imports.

The Ministry of Industry continues to promote downstream development by strengthening the livestock sector, improving fresh milk quality, fostering product innovation, and expanding partnerships between dairy farmers and processors. These measures aim to build domestic self-sufficiency in raw materials, which remain dominated by imports.

Acting Director General of Agro Industry, Putu Juli Ardika, said strengthening the domestic fresh milk supply chain is a crucial foundation for a sustainable dairy industry.

“Partnerships between smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and the dairy processing industry must continue to be strengthened to create an integrated, productive, and sustainable ecosystem,” he emphasized in Jakarta on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as quoted on the ministry’s official website.

To support the upstream sector, the ministry has distributed cooling unit technology and implemented digitalization at Milk Collection Centers (MCCs). By 2024, the program had been rolled out at 96 MCCs under nine cooperatives in West and East Java, involving more than 12,000 dairy farmers.

The government is also developing a new milk supply monitoring application to oversee raw material availability more efficiently and transparently.

In addition, the Food and Beverage Industry Machinery and Equipment Restructuring Program provides subsidies covering up to 35 percent of the cost of new machinery and equipment for both industry and farmer partners.

Putu added that rising household incomes, the healthy living trend, and the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) could drive investment and productivity in the dairy sector.

Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stressed that milk is a strategic commodity contributing to food security and human resource quality. “The low level of milk consumption in Indonesia actually presents a significant opportunity for the future development of the national dairy industry,” he said.

Data from the 2022 World Population Review shows Indonesia’s milk consumption reached only 17.76 liters per capita per year, below Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, the national dairy processing industry requires about 5 million tons of fresh milk equivalent annually, with around 80 percent still met through imports.

On National Milk Day 2026, the ministry hopes the momentum will accelerate downstream development, strengthen upstream capacity, and foster closer collaboration between industry and farmers. With sustainable policies, the dairy industry is expected to become more self-reliant, competitive, and able to meet domestic market needs sustainably. ***