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Poultry Relocation Extended to December
Jakarta - The provincial government of DKI Jakarta finally decided to conduct the relocation of poultry collecting facilities and traditional slaughtering facilities gradually until December. Relocation will start from those located near facilities prepared by the government.
Regional Secretary of DKI Jakarta, Muhayat, on Thursday (22/4) in DKI Jakarta City Hall said the previous deadline for poultry collecting and slaughtering facility relocation, which was on April 24, could not be met because of limited facilities and infrastructures. The provincial government does not want to force relocating all at once because it could cause problems in the poultry trade.
“The provincial government of DKI Jakarta and poultry vendors are looking for alternative solutions to achieve hygienic poultry slaughtering and reduce the risk of spreading Avian Influenza viruses. The provincial government is also working to establish more poultry slaughterhouses, so far there are only 5 units for the whole of Jakarta,” said Muhayat.
DKI Jakarta Regional Secretary Assistant for Economy, Mara Oloan Siregar, said the number of poultry collectors and slaughterers in Jakarta is more than the current capacity of poultry slaughterhouses. Relocation of poultry collectors and slaughterers will be done gradually until the end of the year while also establishing more slaughterhouses if possible.
In the poultry trade structure in Jakarta, there are poultry collectors, poultry collector and slaughterers, poultry slaughterers, poultry vendor and slaughterers, and poultry carcass vendors. For the first phase, poultry collectors and poultry collector and slaughterers will be relocated to the five slaughterhouses prepared.
“Live birds will go to the slaughterhouses and slaughtered there. Then the carcasses will transported through a cold chain to the shops of the collectors for retailers to buy. Vehicles with coolers will also be prepared for easier distribution,” said Oloan.
Some poultry collectors have moved to Rawakepiting Poultry Slaughterhouse area. They are starting to understand the importance of maintaining city environmental health. Also, people living near poultry collecting facilities are also starting to protest their presence.
Refuse to Move
In South Jakarta, most vendors refuse to move from where they are now. In Mayestik Market, South Jakarta, poultry vendor and slaughterers are still doing business on the second floor of the market, even though the market management has provided a new location near the exit of the market.
In Kebayoran Lama Market, hundreds of poultry vendors are still conducting business as usual. Irfan (38), a poultry vendor in Kebayoran Lama Market does not want to leave the place he is currently at. Irfan sets up his stall in Gang Buntu in the market with other vendors.
Besides selling chicken carcasses, Irfan also provides slaughtering service. “I have been here for 20 years. It would be troublesome to move. I don’t know whether I should find a new place,” said Irfan.
He does not understand the government’s concept on poultry collector and slaughterer relocation.
Irfan only knows that the government prohibits vendors from selling live birds in Jakarta.
“I will not move, but if the government wants to regulate us to have better hygiene, I will comply,” said Irfan. (ECA/NDY)
Source : Kompas