National Task Force Formed in Indonesia to Combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Livestock
Yogyakarta – In a strategic move to combat the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in livestock across Indonesia, the Ministry of Agriculture has established the National FMD Task Force. This task force aims to enhance collaboration and synergy in controlling FMD at a regional level, as highlighted by the ministry’s Director General of Livestock and Animal Health, Agung Suganda, during a recent press conference in Yogyakarta.
Collaboration and Synergy for Effective Control
The National FMD Task Force comprises various farmers’ associations and professional groups, including the Indonesian Animal Husbandry Graduates Association (ISPI) and the Indonesian Association of Veterinarians (PDHI). Suganda emphasized that the task force’s primary goal is to monitor FMD management in all regions, promptly respond to reports from livestock farmers, and intensify education on FMD control and vaccination in affected areas.
Swift Response and Vaccine Distribution
To address the FMD outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture has allocated four million vaccine doses. Suganda expressed optimism in swiftly distributing these vaccines to affected areas to curb the spread of the disease. Furthermore, he envisioned the reactivation of FMD task forces in provinces, districts, and cities nationwide following the establishment of the national task force.
University Support and Community Engagement
Budi Guntoro, a member of the National FMD Task Force, called upon animal husbandry faculties in Indonesian universities to establish similar task forces to aid in FMD control efforts. He highlighted the abundance of human resources in universities and the potential for students to actively participate in fieldwork to assist the government in managing FMD outbreaks. These university task forces will focus on disseminating crucial information, particularly regarding biosecurity practices, to farmers in their respective regions.
With the joint efforts of the National FMD Task Force, local task forces, farmers, and universities, Indonesia is poised to effectively combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease in livestock and safeguard the nation’s agricultural sector from the detrimental impacts of this infectious disease. Through proactive measures, collaborative initiatives, and widespread vaccination campaigns, the country is taking significant strides towards protecting its livestock population and ensuring food security for its citizens.
