AMLAPURA, BALIPOST.com — Eruption of Mount Agung occurred on Friday (May 24) caused all the plants in Mount Agung, especially at Besakih village, to get exposed to ash and sand rain. Due to these conditions, local farmers complained that their livestock did not grass due to exposure to ashes and sand.
A farmer of Besakih, Ketut Sulendra, stated on Tuesday (May 28) that eruption of Mount Agung caused the grass to get exposed to thick ashes and sand. As a result, the livestock are reluctant to eat the grass. “My livestock don’t want to eat grass at all. On that account, I am forced to look for jackfruit leaves to feed them. Unexpectedly, they just want to eat a little” he said.
Sulendra hoped there will be a downpour of rain so the exposure of ash and sand can vanish. By that way, the livestock previously rejected to eat the grass filled with ash and sand is willing to eat it again. “Yesterday (Sunday—Ed) was cloudy and drizzling. Hopefully, there will be more heavy rain later, so the ashes and sand attached to the grass can disappear,” he said.
Similar condition was revealed by another farmer, I Nengah Suartana. He admitted that his livestock is difficult to eat as the grass he has cut due to exposure to volcanic ashes with sand. “Livestock only want to eat a little. Most of the feed given does not want to be eaten. Finally, most fodders are thrown away. It happens due to the thickness of ashes and sand attached to the grass. Probably, the grass is felt rough because it contains sand, that’s why the livestock do not want to eat it,” explained Suartana.(Eka Parananda/balipost)
