Estimating PMK Outbreaks To Lose The State Up To IDR 9.9 Trillion, Minister Of Agriculture Syahrul Tightens Supervision Of Livestock Shipments At Ports

Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo said that if the handling of the Mouth and Nail Disease (FMD) outbreak was not carried out properly, new problems would arise. One of them is to provide a loss to the state of Rp. 9.9 trillion per year.

Syahrul explained that the loss occurred due to a decrease in production, livestock deaths and the prohibition or restriction on the export of livestock products and their derivatives. Moreover, he said, the transmission of PMK is quite fast, namely through air or airborne. Therefore, this issue needs to be watched out for.

"If not handled properly, the occurrence of FMD on a large scale will have an impact on economic losses to decrease productivity, mortality and low selling prices. In addition, FMD will also have an impact on international trade, both live cattle and livestock products due to trade (restrictions) on exports. ," he said during a working meeting with Commission IV of the DPR, Monday, May 23.

Furthermore, Syahrul said that the supervision of animal traffic entering and leaving through the port gates continues to be monitored intensively by the Ministry of Agriculture. For example in Merak, Cilegon and Banten ports.

According to Syahrul, at the port, the Agricultural Quarantine Agency and the Indonesian National Police carried out checks on all animals sent from Sumatra Island or from Java itself.

He also made sure that the supervision carried out was running well. This includes other technical functions running according to standard operating procedures (SOP).

"In Cilegon, we can see that there are digital applications to simplify the existing process. This place also carries out maximum inspections assisted by veterinarians. So that there should be no contamination from PMK that we can ignore, even blood samples and laboratory tests can be maximized in Cilegon. this place," he explained.

In addition, Syahrul also emphasized that the meat of livestock affected by FMD can still be consumed by humans with strict slaughter at slaughterhouses (RPH) and infected organs need to be destroyed.

Furthermore, Syahrul also said that cattle affected by FMD were not dangerous and could infect humans.

"Meat from infected livestock can still be consumed by humans, provided that it is slaughtered strictly at the abattoir and infected organs need to be destroyed according to the protocol," he said.