Aizawl, Jan 1 (NationPress) Mizoram has experienced a financial setback of Rs 336.49 crore due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), which led to the death of 15,000 pigs and the culling of around 24,200 pigs to mitigate the disease's spread in 2024, according to officials on Wednesday.
An official from Mizoram’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department stated that over 15,000 pigs died, while more than 24,200 pigs were culled by December 31, following the ASF outbreak that began on February 9 the previous year.
The officials indicated that the contagious disease emerged in mid-March 2021, causing significant losses for both farmers and government-operated farms.
In 2021, a total of 33,417 pigs and piglets succumbed to the disease, with 12,568 culled. In 2022, 12,795 pigs and piglets died, alongside 11,686 culled. The figures for 2023 included 1,139 pigs and piglets that died, with 980 culled.
The initial ASF case of 2024 was recorded on February 9 in Leithum village, located in the Champhai district, which shares an unfenced border with Myanmar.
According to the official, the state has faced financial losses totaling Rs 896.69 crore since 2021 due to the disease.
“Considering the deaths and culling of pigs and piglets caused by the ASF outbreak, Mizoram endured losses of Rs 334.14 crore in 2021, Rs 210.32 crore in 2022, and Rs 15.77 crore in 2023,” stated the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department official.
The government has provided compensation to numerous families affected by the loss of their pigs due to this highly infectious disease, as noted by the official.
The official also mentioned that the ASF outbreak has shown a decline in fatalities, with fewer pig deaths and culling reported since mid-December 2024.
Recently, pig deaths occurred in two districts: Kolasib district, adjacent to Assam, and Lunglei district, bordering Bangladesh.
The AHV Department official indicated that even though the ratio of deaths and culling has decreased after the summer season, the disease remains present in some districts, albeit in lesser numbers.
Pigs from both government and private farms and homes in approximately 260 villages across seven districts have been affected by the ASF outbreak. The affected districts include Aizawl, Champhai, Kolasib, Lunglei, Saitual, Khawzawl, and Serchhip.
The veterinary department has declared these 260 villages as infected.
To combat the ASF virus's spread, the department has prohibited the supply of pigs, piglets, and pork from the affected areas.
The Mizoram government has also banned the import of pigs and piglets from neighboring states and countries where ASF outbreaks are frequently reported.
The ASF outbreak typically occurs when the weather warms up and pre-monsoon rains begin in the state.
However, this year, the outbreak persisted even after the onset of winter, according to the official.
The AHV department has declared various villages and localities in the seven districts as infected zones under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animals Act, 2009, following the ASF outbreak and central guidelines.
Although ASF does not affect humans, it is a highly contagious disease among pigs and presents a significant threat due to its extremely high mortality rate.
Experts suggest that the ASF outbreak may have been triggered by pigs or pork imported from neighboring Myanmar, Bangladesh, and adjacent northeastern states.
Mizoram has a 510-km long unfenced border with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh.
Pork is a widely consumed meat among both tribal and non-tribal communities in the northeastern region.
With a strong demand for pork, the annual market value in the northeast is estimated to be between Rs 8,000-10,000 crore, with Assam being the primary supplier.
