It is important for the government to investigate thoroughly because there are many losses caused by this FMD outbreakJakarta (ANTARA) - Member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) Muchamad Nabil Haroen called on the government to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation into foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in livestock.
"It is important for the government to investigate thoroughly because there are many losses caused by this FMD outbreak," he noted in a written statement here on Thursday.
According to Haroen, an investigation should be conducted since Indonesia has, in fact, been declared free of FMD since 1986, though the disease suddenly resurfaced in 2022.
The House member revealed that based on the Agriculture Ministry's data, the FMD outbreak had inflicted losses to the tune of Rp9.9 trillion, as it disrupted productivity and caused deaths of several livestock animals.
Related news: Govt launches FMD vaccination program from East Java
He assessed that the government should conduct an investigation into FMD to prevent its recurrence in future.
Haroen emphasized that despite FMD not being contagious to humans, all parties should not become complacent.
He emphasized the need for cooperation among all stakeholders to tackle the outbreak.
He also appealed to the public, especially before Eid al-Adha, to slaughter animals for the Islamic ritual Qurbani, or animal sacrifice, in safe places, for instance, in slaughterhouses (RPH).
According to Haroen, animals infected with FMD must be killed. However, it should be followed by the government's readiness to offer compensation to farmers whose animals succumbed to the infection.
Related news: Agriculture Ministry to roll out FMD vaccination on June 14
Earlier, on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture commenced the nationwide FMD vaccination for livestock from Sidoarjo District, East Java.
The vaccine doses are prioritized for healthy animals that are at high risk of infection: animals at livestock breeding centers, community-owned dairy farms, dairy cooperatives, and beef cattle farms.
The ministry has forecast that 17 million livestock will receive the vaccine, or around 80 percent of the livestock population in provinces affected by the disease. The livestock will be inoculated thrice: twice in 2022 and once in 2023.
Related news: Agriculture Ministry to soon distribute 800 thousand FMD vaccine doses
Related news: FMD handling not compromising slaughter animal stocks in Kulon Progo
Translator: Fauzi, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
