African Swine Fever, ASF, outbreak has hugely affects economy of pig farming fraternity economy. Fervent appeal was made for comprehensive policy to address the outbreak as farmers are beyond their capability to endure financial losses driven by the highly contagious disease.
Amid the the six months old crisis of Kuki-Zo and Meitei ethnic clashes, ASF has given another shock to the state, mostly to those who engage in pig farming and retail pork for a living. The pig farmers who are badly affected by this outbreak are fervently seeking adequate amount of compensation and long-term policy to control this epidemic.
Manipur being a meat consuming states in India, large number of population rely on pig farming as main source of income generation. The outbreak of ASF in the state happened much earlier but was confirmed by the government only in the month of October despite the fact that pig farmers are facing the brunt of ASF from June, incurring large financial losses to the state.
“I am no longer able to afford the cost of hiring earth moving vehicle to dig and bury the dead pigs which I rear in my farm. So, this has compelled me to burn down the carcass using the firewood. My pigpen is almost lying vacant as 95 per cent of pig died after ASF spread and some were buried as preventive measure. Almost four trucks of firewood were consumed to incinerate all those pigs.,” Pipi Keithelakpam, an award-winning young pig farmer shared her ordeal to Imphal Review of Arts and Politics that how her piggery farm was heavily affected due to ASF outbreak.
Late intervention of state government to prevent ASF along with contagious nature of this disease has made the outbreak severe. Majority of piggery farmers are in deep pain worrying about how to recover the financial losses they have incurred.
Pipi who owns a pig farm from last seven to eight years said that first she got information of mysterious death of a pig in Ukhrul district in the month of June. During those days the present ethnic crisis was at a peak and they were unable to enquire the cause of death from concerned department.
Through the knowledge they have earned from experience, they themselves came to the conclusion that the mysterious death of the pig might be an ASF case. As there was no option left, treatment of ailing pig was done through ideas, advices and suggestions shared within pig farming fraternity, she added.
“Had the government taken stock of situation of ASF case little earlier, the outbreak might not have been too severe. The state government declared ASF epidemic only in the month of October when almost 90 per cent of pig in farms were already reported dead. There is no vaccine to prevent ASF and only ways to control the outbreak is to take up biosecurity measures and symptomatic treatment. As such the role of the state government is very important to create massive awareness on precautionary measures of ASF” she pointed out.
As a successful piggery farmer, she employed around 30 youth in her farm. They used to afford their living with the income generated from her farm. But damaged given by outbreak have shattered their hopes forcing them to walk away from this profession.
Pipi who has been perturbed in thinking about her employees suggested state government to provide adequate compensation to pig farmers whose pigs died during the outbreak as encouragement.
Manipur veterinary and animal husbandry (VAH) department has stepped up with precautionary measures to combat ASF declaring affected pig farms as epicentres.
According to official notification so far Imphal West, Imphal East, Ukhrul, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching and Kamjong are announced affected districts. As per order, areas within 1 km radius of epicentre are termed as infected zone and radius within 10 km as surveillance zone and whole areas have been categorized as controlled areas.
Conceiving that better late than never, many pig farmers appreciated the intervention of state government to combat the outbreak even though it was late. However, they wished for long term policies like setting up of ASF testing laboratory as pig farming has become full time profession for many people.
Secretary of Manipur Progressive Pig Farmers’ Association (MPPFA), Laisangbam Bidyasagar said that there is big setback for people who rear pig due to lack of proper testing facility for swine diseases in Manipur. The absence of much needed infrastructure hindered test of ASF whenever there is outbreak. Because of this very reason, many rightful farmers would be debarred from getting any compensation.
He continued that most of people rear pig by taking loans from banks. Large number of pigs were culled or died in most of the affected districts. Veterinary Department issued orders about mysterious deaths of pigs or livestock. But to get benefit from state government is a distant hope for many farmers, he alleged.
While urging state government to provide compensation without any partiality, he said that government is probably providing compensation only for the pigs which have an official record of ASF infections. The authority concerned should compensate for all the pigs which died of ASF even if it is little as beacon of hope to all piggery farmers.
Manipur as a meat consuming state, demand and supply of meat is not proportionate. This situation has forced the state to import large amount of meat from other states. If many farmers started quitting amidst this condition, the state government has to invest hefty amount of money and effort in importing meat. To prevent from such consequences, there is dire need of long-term comprehensive policy and programme to control ASF outbreak on time and prevent from recuring such outbreak.
The writer is an award winning reporter
