As many as 72,047 livestocks around Mt. Merapi in Yogyakarta and Central Java have not been evacuated and suffer from lack of feed. Currently, only 10,231 cattles had been evacuated to 181 shelters. The overall population reached 396,198 cattles, consisting of 63,896 in Yogyakarta and 332,302 cattle in Central Java (Boyolali, Magelang, Klaten). "There are still many livestocks in the disaster prone locations that can not be evacuated yet," said the coordinator of identification of livestock management team, Prof. Dr. drh. Ida Tjahajati, M.S, who was met on the sidelines of the visit of Minister of Agriculture, Suswono, to the animal shelters in Tlogoadi, Mlati, Sleman, on Thursday (18/11).
Ida said data collection and evacuation of livestock are still ongoing. Livestock evacuation in addition to be carried out independently by the breeder, is also done in cooperation between livestock community, NGOs, and the police. "Today, we continue to list and search for locations that will be used as a shelter," said Professor of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine UGM.
For every evacuation shelter, according to Ida, she asked the instructor to be responsible for supply of fodder. Meanwhile, livestock health treatment is carried out by veterinarians at the shelter of Prof. Soeparwi veterinary hospital of UGM.
The identification team has recorded the number of death live stocks at 2121, specifically 2079 cattles in the area of Sleman, and 42 in Central Java. There are 292 that have been sold and more 3807 will be sold. Ida called for the breeders not to sell their animals to traders because of the possibility that the price offered is below market price. Ida suggested that the IDPs sell their livestock to the government because the price is in accordance with market price. Steers, cattle, and buffalo will be purchased for 22,000 each kg. Adult ox is valued at 20,000 each kg. Dairy calf is 5 million Rupiah, virgin cow 7 million, pregnant cow 9 million Rupiah, and lactation dairy cow 10 million Rupiah.
To reporters, Minister Suswono, said that the government provided funding of about 100 billion Rupiah to buy the cows. The funds are also used to provide animal feed which now has been evacuated. "For the dead cattle, we will give compensation during the rehabilitation and reconstruction. Currently, we will focus on living animals," he said.
Suswono said that the dead cow is likely to be compensated in the form of money or cattle through cattle assistance program from the Department of Agriculture. On the occasion, Suswono also witnessed the signing of purchase agreement letter of three cows from three dairy farmers in Boyong village, Hargobinangun, Pakem, Sleman. The prices for cows are 10 million, 7 million and 5 million Rupiah. The money from the sale of cattle are not given in cash, but sent through a bank account. Winarman (35), who sold his lactating cow said that he still has 8 more. However, one of his cows died of illness while on its way to the evacuation shelter. "I had to sell this one due to its weak condition," said the father of two children who has been a dairy farmer for 8 years.