African swine flu: Punjab, Haryana farmers offer to help the farmers of Assam

GUWAHATI: Pig farmers from Punjab and Haryana have offered to help the African swine fever hit farmers of Assam by giving piglets or breeding-stock to enable the latter to restart their business.

The offer of help from outside farmers came during the recent meeting of the North East Progressive Pig Farmers' Association (NEPPFA) held in Tezpur in Sonitpur district. The meeting was organized to work out practical and effective strategies for rejuvenation of the African swine fever hit piggery sector of Assam. Besides affected commercial pig farmers from various districts of Assam, a group of representative farmers from Punjab and Haryana were also present in the meeting.

President of NEPPFA Manoj Kumar Basumatary said there is a risk in taking germplasm from farmers in Assam because farmers do not know where the virus still exists. So repopulating farms from piglets taken within the State is highly risky, he said.

"Bringing germplasm from risk-free States will bring down the risk probability. Consultation will be held with concerned government departments to work out the modalities of transportation of this livestock given as relief material to our farmers keeping in mind the National Action Plan for African Swine Fever and other rules and regulations," Basumatary said.

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