“Vaccination has a direct and indirect impact on national food security,” he noted at a press conference on FMD handling development followed online here on Tuesday.
Adisasmito highlighted that based on a journal issued in 2021, vaccination that is conducted well could restore the productivity of farm animals that were earlier infected with FMD.
This will affect the fulfillment of the stocks of national food commodities originating from animals to become stable again for commodities, such as meat or milk.
Apart from affecting national food security, FMD vaccination also impacts the process of economic recovery of the community, especially farmers whose incomes declined due to the outbreak.
He explained that economic recovery could occur, as farm animals that were vaccinated will experience milder symptoms as compared to those not having received the vaccine. Risks of transmission and fatality are also lower among vaccinated animals.
The government also simultaneously pushes for increasing the capacity of companies in the country, so that Indonesia can independently produce FMD vaccines.
“Efforts will continue to be made to accelerate the procurement, distribution, and administration of the vaccine, so that farmers in Indonesia can farm safely again,” he affirmed.
Adisasmito appealed to farmers to not panic and not give up on treating their animals that experience symptoms after FMD vaccination.
He noted that the clinical symptoms might occur because the FMD virus has already infected the animal but has not shown the symptoms during vaccination.
To this end, he urged farmers to report their animals’ condition first before vaccination. He expressed optimism that the officers would intensify the dissemination of information, as it is mandatory for farmers in FMD red, yellow, and white zones to get their animals vaccinated.
Adisasmito emphasized that vaccination for animals vulnerable to FMD must become a cause for concern for all farmers to protect their farm animals.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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