Keep 'infected' pork away, says MPPFA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 04 2022: The Manipur Progressive Piggery Farmers' Association (MPPFA) has urged the Government to take up necessary measures so as to ensure that pigs which died of African Swine Fever (ASF) do not find their way to slaughter houses and meat shops.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, MPPFA general secretary Khundrakpam Malemnganba said there is a strong suspicion that ASF was transmitted to some border areas of the State through pigs imported from neighbouring Myanmar.

He then urged the Government to take up necessary steps in order to check transmission of ASF from across the border.

Keep 'infected' pork away, says MPPFA

Piggery farmers of the State would face a very difficult situation if ASF and other diseases transmitted through pigs imported from Myanmar start spreading extensively in the State on account of failure on the part of the State Government and Veterinary Department to take up necessary precautionary measures, Malemnganba said.

As there is no provision for compensating pigs killed by such diseases, there is a strong possibility of some pig farmers sending the dead pigs to slaughter houses or meat shops to earn at least some money.

If there are pigs which died of ASF and other disease among the pigs put on sale for meat, the diseases may spread rapidly across the State, he warned.

He also underscored the importance of regulating slaughter houses as well as meat shops which deal in pork.

He urged the authority concerned to check meat shops from time to time and see if any of the pork put on sale are infected or not.

He further urged the authority concerned to organise awareness programmes so that pig farmers can understand how to deal with ASF and other diseases.

Notably, many pigs had died of African Swine Fever at a piggery farm of Grihang village recently.

Subsequently, the Kamjong District Magistrate declared the area within one Km radius of the piggery farm as infected zone and all the areas within 10 Kms radius as surveillance zone.