Barantan Reminds The Implementation Of Biosecurity To Prevent ASF Viruses On The Moon Island Of Batam City

Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency (Kabarantan), Bambang, visited the pig farm on Pulau Bulan, Batam, Riau Islands, to find out about efforts to contain the African/ANTARA swine flu virus

TANJUNGPINANG - The Agricultural Quarantine Agency (Kabarantan) reminded the implementation of Biosecurity or biological security at the Bulan Island pig farm, Batam City, Riau Islands Province (Kepri) to prevent the African swine flu virus (ASF). "The implementation of the Biosecurity SOP on the island of the Moon must be carried out very strictly, starting from the Biosecurity procedures of workers, transportation equipment, to the condition of pig feed, it must also be a concern," said Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency (Kabarantan), Bambang in Tanjungpinang, Antara, Thursday, May 25. Bambang even directly inspected the pig farm on the island of the Moon, last Wednesday to find out about efforts to accelerate the handling of ASF disease in the area. His party is obliged to carry out escorts so that pigs from Pulau Bulan can again meet export market demand, after one month of closing due to the African swine flu virus. Barantan also questioned the progress of preparations for the implementation of the ASF free sub-coot on the Moon Island, which Singapore has agreed. "In principle, the government will support business actors who take the initiative to develop vaccines independently so that they can be useful and continue to follow applicable procedures," said Bambang. The head of the Tanjungpinang Agricultural Quarantine, Aris Hadiyono, said he was optimistic that he could accelerate the handling of ASF disease on the Moon Island by collaborating with all relevant stakeholders. He also said that as of May 8, 2023, his party had again certified the issuance of pork carcasses from Pulau Bulan 112 times to meet needs in Batam City. "Since officials from the Riau Islands Province veterinary authority opened traffic for animal products from Bulan Island for the Batam area, quarantine officials have certified 38 tons of shipments," said Aris. Meanwhile, a representative of PT. ITS, as the manager of the Bulan Island pig farm, Tjatur Isnandar, said that currently his party is trying to restore the pig population in Pulan Bulan as optimally as possible in order to return to meeting export market demand. According to him, the remaining population is now 50 thousand and is targeted to reach 200 thousand populations within a maximum of one year, as previously demand from Singapore reached 1,000 heads per day. His party also ensured that the repopulation process could be accelerated with the ASF vaccine import plan from Vietnam.

"For this reason, we ask that Kabarantan can allow ASF vaccine income from Vietnam so that it can be developed independently on the island of the Moon. Vietnam is currently developing its own ASF vaccine," he said.