Indonesia Tightens Animal Disease Control as El Niño Threatens Outbreaks

Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture is strengthening its animal disease control system. The move comes as meteorologists warn that the El Niño weather pattern could increase the risk of outbreaks. Officials are focusing on improving veterinary services. They aim to detect and contain diseases like foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease before they spread. The El Niño phenomenon typically brings drier conditions, which can stress livestock and make them more vulnerable to illness. The ministry stated that it is deploying more field veterinarians and increasing the supply of vaccines. It is also improving monitoring systems in high-risk areas across the archipelago. By acting now, the government hopes to prevent a repeat of past outbreaks that hurt farmers and disrupted the food supply. The effort is part of a broader strategy to protect Indonesia’s agricultural sector from climate-related shocks.