Aizawl: The African Swine Fever (ASF) continues to devastate Mizoram, with the death toll now nearing the 7,000 mark within just six months.
The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (AH&Vety) Department reported that from January to June 17, 2024, the outbreak has claimed the lives of 2,257 pigs, while an additional 4,671 pigs have been culled to prevent further spread of the disease. On June 17 alone, 78 pigs were killed, and 30 were culled, contributing to the total of 6,929.
The ASF outbreak has significantly impacted 102 villages and localities across the state, exacerbating the plight of pig farmers. Earlier in May, the Mizoram Pig Farmers Association (MIPFA) expressed their frustrations over the perceived lack of support from the AH&Vety Department.
The farmers criticized the department’s response as inadequate, highlighting the challenges they face in seeking assistance and voicing their dissatisfaction with the initiatives implemented so far.
The economic repercussions of the ASF outbreak have been severe, dealing a devastating blow to Mizoram’s pig farming industry. The cumulative losses from previous waves of the outbreak underscore the crisis’s magnitude.
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In 2021, the first wave resulted in losses amounting to ₹334.14 crores, with 45,808 pig deaths recorded. The subsequent wave in 2022 compounded the devastation, causing losses totaling ₹200.38 crores, with 23,143 pig fatalities. Collectively, these losses amount to a staggering ₹534.43 crores.
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