Mizoram’s pig farmers have faced a staggering financial setback of nearly Rs 800 crore due to the ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, the state assembly was informed on Tuesday.
The outbreak, which began in 2021, has resulted in substantial losses for the region’s agriculture sector.
In a written response to a legislative query, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister C Lalsawivunga detailed the extent of the crisis.
According to Lalsawivunga, from March 2021 to August 15, 2024, ASF has led to the death of 57,217 pigs and the culling of 43,159 others in a bid to control the disease's spread.
The cumulative financial loss during this period amounts to Rs 799.68 crore.
The situation remains dire, with recent figures indicating that between January and mid-August of this year alone, 9,866 pigs have succumbed to ASF and 17,977 have been culled, causing an additional loss of Rs 239.45 crore.
The state government has received intermittent financial aid from the Centre to manage the outbreak.
On January 1 this year, the administration declared ASF a state disaster.
Despite ongoing efforts to contain the disease, complete eradication remains elusive.
In response to the crisis, Mizoram has imposed a strict ban on the import of pigs and pork products from neighboring states and countries since May.
To address the shortfall, private agencies have been importing pork products from Pune in Maharashtra.
Mizoram's pork consumption averages over 4 lakh kilograms per month.
The outbreak has also stressed other sectors, including poultry and feedstock, due to increased demand for maize and broken grains from ethanol producers.
ASF, a highly contagious and fatal viral disease first identified in Kenya in 1921, continues to wreak havoc on global pig farming industries, underscoring the urgent need for effective containment measures.
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