It's Been A Month Since The Mataram Distan Stopped Cows From Sumbawa Island Because Of PMK

Acting Head of the Mataram City Agriculture Service (Distan) Irwan Harimansyah. (ANATRA/Nirkomala)

MATARAM - Mataram City Agriculture Service, West Nusa Tenggara Province, stopped the entry of cows from Sumbawa Island as a measure to anticipate the word and nail disease virus (PMK).

Acting Head of the Mataram City Agriculture Service (Distan) Irwan Harimansyah said the termination of cattle entry from Sumbawa Island had been carried out in almost the past month.

"We are doing this as a measure to anticipate the transmission of the PMK virus to the livestock of residents in Mataram City, which is currently free of PMK," he said in Mataram, Antara, Sunday, November 24.

However, he said, after almost a month of stopping cows from Sumbawa Island, the stock of cattle in Mataram City from buffer districts/cities on Lombok Island began to run low.

In fact, currently the stock of cattle in farmers and entrepreneurs remains 94. This number is considered insufficient to meet the needs until the end of 2024.

"This condition is starting to make entrepreneurs and butchers restless. However, we are still trying to provide understanding to slaughterers in slaughterhouses," he said.

He explained that the cow's stop was based on a risk analysis that was being studied with the central government. A special team has been formed to ensure that the regulations and distribution procedures for livestock animals are adhered to so that the entry of livestock can return to normal.

"We don't want to take risks, therefore for the time being we ask the butchers to be patient until the results of the risk analysis are published," he said.

Currently, he said, the supply of cattle in Mataram City comes from the buffer districts/cities even though the number is limited.

Until the end of the year, the stock of livestock is estimated to only meet the needs for 40 days, while the need for livestock will certainly increase ahead of Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025.

"We admit that the current number of livestock is not enough to meet demand. However, we cannot just import without clear regulations," he said.

To cover this shortfall, his party plans to communicate with companies related to livestock distribution. "But import regulations remain the main challenge that must be overcome," he said.