In response to a recent beef strike, the Trade Ministry has partnered with a private distributor to provide more affordable frozen beef while also mulling over a plan to diversify the commodity’s import sources to stabilize prices. Butchers and meat traders, especially those in Greater Jakarta, held a strike on Jan. 20-21 demanding government intervention to stabilize price increases at markets for fresh beef and at feedlots and slaughterhouses for cattle. To allay their concerns, the ministry has facilitated cooperation between butchers and private beef distributor PT Suri Nusantara Jaya (SNJ), which has committed to providing 17,000 tons of frozen beef and frozen water buffalo meat. “We have brought together the butchers [with SNJ] and they have committed to start selling again from [Friday] with relatively more affordable beef for the public,” Trade Ministry…