With African swine fever affecting pig population in Assam, state govt pleads to withdraw the notification allowing movement of pigs

Guwahati: With African swine fever affecting piggery in several areas of Assam, state government has written to the Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairy to withdraw notification allowing movement of pigs from Haryana and Punjab to the Northeast India.

Assam Agriculture minister, Atul Bora said, "I have written a letter to Union Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Giriraj Singh to withdraw the notification immediately as the situation in the State currently reeling under flood is not conducive for the arrival of pigs from other States.

If the pigs from the two States bring virus with them, it will be very difficult for us to ascertain that as most of our officials are engaged in rescue and relief operations for the flood-affected people."

Local pig rearing farmers has opposed the move for this will led to long-term affect in the market. According to the state government as many as 17,118 pigs died so far due to African swine fever in 422 villages of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Biswanath, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Majuli, Golaghat, Nagaon, Kamrup (Metro), Morigaon, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Sonitpur districts. He said that this has affected 20,000 families engaged in the sector. Each family has incurred loses to the tune of Rs 30,000 per family. “Across the state the losses will be around Rs 60 crore. The department has sought bailout package from the state government.”