Smallholder cattle development in Indonesia: learning from the past for an outcome-oriented development model

Despite numerous programs implemented for beef self-sufficiency in Indonesia, beef demand has steadily increased, while national beef production supplies only half of the national market demand. Smallholder farmers plays a pivotal role in beef sector since more than 90% of cattle production in Indonesia is developed by smallholder farmers. The paper aims to review and recommend a model for smallholder cattle development in Indonesia. The paper collected data from literature review and assess the trajectory of cattle development in Indonesia, focusing on recent national programs to increase the cattle population and how it evolved. The vast majority of cattle production is operated by smallholder farmers characterized by traditional practices and, heavily relying on nature as a feed source, have limited cattle production/productivity. Delivered cattle development programs have had little impact on increasing the cattle population and narrowing the domestic beef market demand gap. Efforts to increase small-scale livestock farming will narrow the supply-demand gap in the beef market and improve farmers' livelihoods. The paper highlighted that despite the implementation of national programs, the heterogeneous agroecological, socio-economic, and cultural conditions across regions should be considered in cattle development programs to achieve sustainable outcomes. Based on previous research for development initiatives, this recommendation is formulated into different models according to the cattle farming systems. Implication of these varying model is that development programs need to consider local conditions and no one-size-fits-all approach.