Assam Piggery Mission: Piggery farmers submit report to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

POST-'AFRICAN SWINE FLU' MOVE

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In response to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's request, the 'All Assam Pig Farmers Association' on Wednesday met the Chief Minister and submitted their detailed report for the 'Assam Piggery Mission'. The total cost of the project is pegged at Rs 456.42 crore.

The project envisages self-sustaining pig production and uplift of the socio-economic condition of the pig farmers in Assam.

Thanking the Chief Minister for undertaking the initiative aimed at "the empowerment of 10 Lakh vulnerable small-scale farmers of Assam, the Association was optimistic that this move will generate opportunities for another 10 Lakh people who will be associated with the Pig Industry. "We are extremely grateful to the Chief Minister for his personal interest and passion for the development of this sector, and also the State's economy," the organization's joint secretary, Debraj Swargari, told The Sentinel.

He pointed out, "The annual pork consumption in the State is 11.07 crore kilogram. As much as 30% or 1.03 crore of the State's population consume pork annually. On the other hand, the State produces 1.87 crore of pork meat each year. In other words, there is an annual shortfall of 9.20 crore kg of pork meat or 15,57,146 pigs. The value of this shortfall is Rs 3,220.46 crore."

Swargari further explained, "Our business witnessed a downward trend after the 'African Swine Flu' in 2019. In the post-flu phase, pigs had to be imported into Assam from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. According to our estimate, a total of nine crore pigs had to be culled during that pandemic."

He added, "We are quite optimistic that our project report will showcase a way forward for the authorities concerned. We want the government to specify the exact amount earmarked for piggery and the sector's revival in this year's Budget.

Also Read: Amid African Swine Flu Scare Locals in Dibrugarh Discovers Pigs Imported from Neighbouring State

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