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East Java's farmers feel economic pinch of FMD outbreak
The disease has infected more than 6,000 animals in the province, killing 300.
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Deadly virus: Agriculture Ministry officials inspect efforts for the control and prevention of foot-and-mouth disease in Tulang Bawang Barat regency, Lampung, on May 22, 2022. (Agriculture Ministry/-)
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ivestock farmers in East Java, home to the largest cattle herd in the country, are beginning to feel the economic impact of the recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, which has affected thousands of animals across the province.
FMD is a highly infectious viral disease that affects hoofed mammals, including cows, goats and sheep. Animals with the disease may experience fever followed by the development of vesicles (blisters), chiefly on the mouth and feet.
FMD has spread to at least 30 of the 38 regencies of East Java, infecting more than 6,000 animals and killing almost 300. Authorities said that around 250 animals per day in the province had caught the disease over the past two months, 10 times the entire January to October figure from last year.
Despite having none of his livestock infected by the viral disease, M. Sholikin, a farmer from Kediri regency, said his income has dwindled in the past few months amid a drop in cattle prices.
"The prices of my cattle have fallen by around Rp 2 million (US$123) to 8 million per head. For instance, the price of my 650 kilogram Simmental cattle dropped from Rp 33 million to just Rp 25 million since the outbreak," he told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview.
In addition to the sharp price drop, Sholikin noted that selling his cattle had become increasingly difficult.
"On a normal day, I could sell up to three cows, but now I can only sell one on a good day," he added.
