Aizawl, Sept 14:    The Mizoram government has requested financial aid from the Centre to support pig farmers severely impacted by the ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, which has plagued the state’s pig industry since 2021. This appeal was made by Mizoram’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister, C Lalsawivunga, during a meeting of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Ministers in Odisha on Friday, according to an official statement.

Minister Lalsawivunga stressed the substantial economic losses faced by pig farmers due to the ASF outbreak and urged the Centre to provide compensation for their losses. He also called for swift action to produce or import vaccines to tackle the disease.

Last month, Lalsawivunga informed the state assembly that over 57,000 pigs had died, and 43,000 more had been culled since 2021, resulting in financial losses amounting to ₹800 crore. He noted that Mizoram had already received over ₹7 crore from the Centre between 2021 and 2023 to compensate farmers. An additional ₹74.7 lakh has been requested for the 2023-24 fiscal year, with approval already granted by the National Steering Committee.

A bulletin from the state’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department indicated that ASF is currently affecting 234 villages across five districts, including Aizawl. Between January and September 13, 2024, 12,475 pigs have died, and 21,390 have been culled to contain the spread.

The outbreak was first identified in March 2021 in Lungsen village, near Mizoram’s border with Bangladesh. Officials suspect the virus was introduced by pigs illegally imported from the neighboring country. Though initially contained by December 2021, ASF resurfaced in February 2022 and has continued to cause significant damage, with flare-ups in 2023 and 2024.