IMPHAL, Dec 12 (NNN): Manipur Progressive Piggery Farmers’ Association (MPPFA) on Monday lamented that piggery farmers who have been hit hard by the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) are yet to get any assistance from the government.
Talking to reporters on the sideline of MPPFA annual general body meeting held today in Imphal, its general secretary Khundrakpam Manglem said that piggery farmers across the state have been hit hard by the outbreak of the ASF.
He pointed out that in the neighbouring states like Assam and Mizoram, the respective governments have compensated the farmers who suffered the loss due to the outbreak of the ASF.
The farmers were adequately compensated for the losses in Assam and Mizoram, he also said.
Manglem said that, in Manipur, the farmers are yet to get any assistance from the state government side and there is no plan on the part of the state government to compensate for the losses suffered by the piggery farmers.
According to Manglem, the outbreak of the ASF was first reported in the state in 2019. With no effective vaccine, the disease is not only adversely affecting animal health and welfare but has also detrimental impacts on biodiversity and the livelihoods of farmers.
The only way is to prevent pigs from getting infected by the devastating disease, he said.
“Knowing the fact, the association has been taking an active role in creating awareness on the disease to the farmers across the state”, he added.
