MIYAZAKI (Kyodo) The economic impact on Miyazaki Prefecture from the outbreak in April of foot-and-mouth disease among livestock is likely to total ¥235 billion over the next five years, the prefecture said.
It is the first estimation by the prefecture of overall losses by its industries, including the livestock, tourism and transportation sectors.
It released the projections Tuesday, estimating roughly five years will be needed before the shipment value of the livestock industry recovers to levels before the epidemic hit Miyazaki farms.
Of the total, local authorities estimated the livestock industry would be hit by about ¥82.5 billion in losses and the meat-processing industry by around ¥8.9 billion. Related sectors such as animal feed makers and material suppliers were expected to lose about ¥47.8 billion.
Among other losses, it put at about ¥95 billion the negative impact on the restaurant, tourism and transportation sectors due to cancellations of tourist-oriented events and a dive in the number of tourists as of late July, when the prefecture lifted a state of emergency and removed the remaining ban on cattle transfers.
"We have estimated the size of losses to help the central government comprehend the magnitude when we ask it to provide assistance for our reconstruction," a prefectural official said.