Mizoram requests financial aid for ASF affected pig farmers

The Mizoram government has formally requested financial assistance from the Central government to support pig farmers severely impacted by the ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.

State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister C Lalsawivunga highlighted the crisis during a meeting with animal husbandry and veterinary ministers in Odisha. He stressed that the ASF outbreak has inflicted significant financial losses on pig farmers across the state.

Minister Lalsawivunga urged the Centre to provide compensation for the substantial losses incurred. He also called for urgent measures to either produce or import vaccines to combat the disease.

Last month, Lalsawivunga informed the state assembly that the ASF outbreak has led to the death of over 57,000 pigs and the culling of more than 43,000 others, resulting in an estimated financial loss of nearly Rs 800 crore since 2021. In response, the Centre allocated Rs 7 crore for compensation during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 fiscal years. An additional Rs 74.7 lakh for the 2023-24 fiscal year has been approved by the National Steering Committee.

According to a bulletin from the state animal husbandry and veterinary department, the ASF outbreak currently affects at least 234 villages across five districts, including Aizawl. The outbreak, first reported in March 2021 at Lungsen village near the Bangladesh border, is believed to have been triggered by illegally imported pigs.