No.42/MC.TDBM/11/2010

PRESS RELEASE

No. 42/MC.TDBM/11/2010

To Anticipate the Community from Entering Restricted Zone of Merapi, Government Prepares 100 Billion for Breeders

Yogyakarta, 11/18/2010 (Media Center Kominfo, 17:00) - Minister of Agriculture, Suswono, said that the government provides a budget of 100 billion rupiah, to help people whose cattles become the victim of the eruption of Mount Merapi.

This is done so that the people who become survivors of Merapi eruption disaster no longer located in the vicinity of the forbidden zone to take care of their livestock because it is very threatening given the threat of eruption of Merapi is still there and until recently was still a Caution.

"Given that, threaten safety. Then the government provides a budget up to Rp100 billion for breeders whose livestock become the victims, "said Minister of Agriculture in the Media Center Disaster Emergency Response Merapi in Yogyakarta Jalan Kenari No.14a, (18/11).

Minister explained, the purpose of livestock replacement is to prioritize the rescue of the breeders itself from the eruption disaster that possibly still exists. According to the Minister, after the notification that the cattles which are victims of Merapi will be replaced, farmers are no longer desperate to remain in the danger zone radius of 10-15 KM.

"So when this policy taken, thank God these breeders are no longer desperate. Although some of the still secretly back to their village to feed their livestock, but the point is the situation has been relatively calm, " he said.

According to the Minister, from the search and the dialogue conducted with the communities of livestock owners, they found the fact that livestock owners do not want their livestocks sold or replaced with money. They prefer and would like to be given assistance of livestock feed instead of having to sell it.

This is because the livestock owners have very close ties with their livestock and has become their livelihood to survive. The government will provide the feed in the evacuation points for free.

"Because of their livelihoods. Not the government does not want to buy. All they want is to be given guarantees or help to feed their cattles, "he added.

Therefore, the Agriculture Ministry said his ministry has formed a team to take care of this task force, which among other to identify and record the number of livestock, including the owners who located in dangerous zone of 10 -15 KM from the peak of Merapi, then to evacuate with assistance from TNI / police, and to facilitates the if breeders want to sell their livestock.

Of the three teams who work at this time, the number of cattles within 20 Km radius from the peak Merapi has been recorded, which threatened livestock amounted to 84 691. The number of livestocks which have already been evacuated amounted to 10 231 cattles spread over spread over 181 evacuation points

While the number of animals that died was recorded 2121 cattles. And from that in the evacuation points, as much as 3807 cattles are about to sell by the owner.

For people or breeders who wanted to sell thei cows, the Government set the decent standard price of livestock according to the type of cow and its size.

For the calf cows (tillers cows) the pice set 5 million, 7 million for female cows, 9 million for pregnant cows and 10 million for lactating cows (dairy). "It's a reasonable price," added the Minister.

As for beef cattle, the prices according to the weight. For male cattle price per kg is Rp22ribu and for cows that are no longer productive, price per kg is Rp20 thousand.

In the sales transaction, the farmer will be facilitated by a team of task force and the payment will be made through account transfer which made by the government in cooperation with the bank..

Contact : Hartje Winerungan, Head of PR-BNPB

Phone : 0274 – 547 359 (Hotline Media Center)

Mobile : 0815 9926 781

Contact : Sembiring, Public Information Agency-kominfo

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