3 Villages In Boyolali Affected By Mount Merapi Ash Rain, Ministry Of Agriculture Distributes Grass Feed For Livestock

Food assistance for farmers in areas affected by the volcanic ash rain of Mount Merapi in Tlogolele Village, Selo District, Boyolali Regency, Wednesday (15/3/2023). ANTARA/Bambang Dwi Marwoto.

YOGYAKARTA - The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) through the Department of Livestock and Fisheries (Disnakkan) of Boyolali Regency distributed livestock feed assistance to residents in areas affected by the volcanic ash rain of Mount Merapi in three villages in Selo District.

Head of Boyolali Regency, Lusia Dyah Suciati, said the assistance was in the form of green animal feed and plenary concentrate for three villages affected by Merapi ash, namely Tlogolele, Klakah, and Jrakah in Selo District.

He said the eruption of Mount Merapi caused ash rain to cover roads, residents' houses, and plants in the area to have an impact on the increasingly low demand for animal feed.

Volcanic ash from Merapi is still attached to the leaves because the area has not yet rained so that grass in the area is not suitable for animal consumption.

He explained that the Ministry of Agriculture saw the condition and then responded quickly by sending livestock feed assistance through the Boyolali Regency Breed.

"The Ministry of Agriculture has responded in the form of green aid for animal feed as much as seven tons that we sent in Tlogolele Village, then also two tons of concentrat pellets in Klakah Village," he said.

The livestock feed assistance will be continued with the provision of five tons of pellets to Tlogolele and Jrakah villages as well as one green truck for animal feed for Klakah Village.

"We hope that the assistance can meet the needs of animal feed of 3,100 cows and 650 goats or sheep in areas affected by volcanic ash rain," he said.

He explained that by raining ash automatically, grass in the area is not suitable for animal consumption.

His party seeks support for green feed assistance for livestock, especially to replace feed during the eruption of Merapi.

Susilo (45), one of the people of Tlogolele Village, said he was happy to receive animal feed assistance from the government.

He said most of the local community as cattle breeders could not feed their livestock with grass or feed green food growing in the area due to volcanic ash.

He admitted that he was forced to use grass that was exposed to volcanic ash for animal feed. However, before being given to livestock, the grass is washed first until it is clean.