Compensation to farmers within ten days of culling
AFRICAN SWINE FEVER
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora said that the department had no alternative but to cull pigs within three days of detection of African Swine Fever. He said the affected farmers would get compensation within ten days of culling.
Addressing the media today, Bora said, "African Swine Fever occurred in Assam and a few other states in 2020, and since then it has been affecting the state. African Swine Fever has a 100 per cent mortality rate spreading from swine to swine, we have no alternative but to cull pigs within three days of detecting the fever to save other pigs. African Swine Fever has spread in 22 districts with 73 epicentres in the state. The affected districts are Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Udalguri, Baksa, Kamrup, Nalbari, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Morigaon, Golaghat, Sivasagar, Kamrup (M), Charaideo, Jorhat, Majuli, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong. Tinsukia and Sivasagar districts locally banned the sale of pork."
Bora said that the compensation for culled pigs ranged from Rs 2,200 to Rs 22,000 based on the weight. "We are taking up the matter with the Centre to raise the compensation amount," he said.
According to the minister, the cause of concern is that African Swine Fever has no vaccines. "The fever has affected 14,005 families in the state since 2020. While 40,482 pigs died of African Swine Fever in 2020, the government culled 1,378 pigs during the period. After the recent floods, 900 pigs died of fever and the Government culled 550 pigs in June. The situation has taken a turn for the worse after the floods, affecting bio-security. The department has paid Rs 1.48 crore as compensation to the farmers since 2020. We have asked the deputy commissioners to sanitize the affected areas. We have also formed 427 rapid response teams. A high-level committee is monitoring the swine fever situation in the state."
The minister further said it could not inaugurate the pork processing plant at Nazira, a joint venture between the State Government and the Centre, due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever.
When asked if anybody transported pigs illegally to the state, Bora said, "We have restricted the transportation of adult pigs to the state from outside, but not piglets. If we receive any complaints regarding illegal transportation of pigs to the state, we can take action with the help of the Home Department."
The minister appealed to pig farmers to follow precautionary measures to prevent African Swine Fever from spreading. The department distributed leaflets for awareness among pig farmers regarding swine fever.
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