Well, not lambs but cattle. Indonesia imports 500,000 head of live cattle from Australia every year – and an interesting protectionist policy caps the weight of each animal to be no more than 350 kg. The animals are then fattened for a year in Indonesia – creating local employment – before being led for slaughter.
Recently, Australia imposed a ban on exports to Indonesia amidst reports of inhuman treatment of the live cattle leading to slaughter. The ban has since been revoked and Indonesia will now meet international standards of hygiene, safety and “humane” slaughtering of animals.
Indonesia is rattled, being dependent on Australia for beef. Australia is rattled too, dependent as it is on Indonesia for beef export, it being Australia’s largest client. Australia, with its vast lands, huge cattle farms and low population, is fast becoming the food supplier to the region. Recently, another clever local entrepreneur turned a problem into an opportunity – by converting Australia’s camel menace into a spectacular meat export business to the Middle East. For all its clients however, it’s more about food & protein security. Over-dependence is dangerous. Varied sources of supply are best. China has been leasing amd commandeering giant tracts of farm land in Africa and South America to safeguard food supplies.
Food security, energy security, water security are the themes for the 21st Century. The sovereign land wars of the past centuries are over. Or are they?
SAMEER NAIR 