Assam raises concern over nod to interstate pig transport

The Assam government has expressed concern over the Centre's directive permitting interstate transportation of livestock, a move which it feared might pose a grave risk to a state where thousands of pigs died of African Swine Fever since May this year. In the wake of this, it has written to the central government to roll back its order granting supply of interstate transportation of pigs to the state from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

New Delhi: Assam government has appealed to the Union Ministry for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries to roll back its order granting supply of interstate transportation of pigs to the state from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The Assam government believes that interstate transportation of pigs which are the ‘carrier of African Swine Flu (ASF)’ might affect the state further. The flu has already killed thousands of pigs in 306 villages across the state.

However, if the central government agrees to the Assam government’s demand, more than 20,000 farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP who depend on Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram markets in Northeast for pig will be severely affected.

"Presently the state is fighting on multiple fronts. Besides COVID 19 pandemic, Assam has hugely been affected by floods. African Swine Flu is adding to our woes. So inter-state transportation of livestock may bring more biohazards and will be risky," said Assam Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Atul Bora to ETV Bharat.

Bora said that he has requested Union Minister Giriraj Singh to withdraw the Centre's directive, which allowed inter-state transportation of pigs to Assam.

"I have pleaded to restrict the move which will adversely affect our farmers…I spoke to Atul Chaturvedi, Secretary, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, on the recent directive of transportation of pigs to Assam from other states & the time frame in regards to the culling of pigs to contain ASF. He assured us all possible help & support in this regard,” Bora said.

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The Union Ministry for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries in a letter on Wednesday said that following references from piggery associations of Punjab and Haryana, it has been decided that movement of pigs from these states will be allowed with strict compliance of proper guidelines.

Significantly, the Assam Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has already notified 31 epicentres in the state where African swine fever has spread.

The state government has also decided to go with its decision of culling pigs that are suffering from African Swine Flu after August 15.

However, before the culling of the animals, the Department will test all pigs within a radius one km around each of the epicentres.

The pigs to be found African swine fever positive will be culled and those to be found negative are to be segregated from the rest.

Minister Bora said that as of now 7,118 pigs died of African swine fever in the State.

The department will also compensate the farmers for their loss. Against each pig culled a farmer will get Rs 2,200 to Rs 15,000 based on the size and age of the animal.

Ironically, if the central government withdraws the decision of inter-state transportation movement of pigs, more than 20,000 farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP who are dependent on Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram markets for pig will be severely affected.

Ranjeet Yadav, a pig farmer from Jaipur said that farmers of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP are suffering as their pigs are ready but they are not able to sell.

"Farmers here are waiting for the last 4 months to sell their pigs. Now they don’t have money to spend on feed as already 10 per cent of farmers closed their farms. All pigs are above 100kg and we will be following guidelines from the central government,” said Yadav.

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He said that pigs mostly go to Meghalaya and Mizoram and none of the ASF affected districts come in the way.

“There is no ASF in our states and how it’s going to affect Assam? We are not going to sell any pigs in Assam and none of our trucks and pigs will be in direct contact with Assam farmers,” he said.

He said that the majority of pigs, almost 90 per cent, are being sold in Nagaland and Meghalaya. Assam is the only gateway to enter these states.

The Northeast Progressive Pig Farmers Association (NEPPFA) has also opposed the Centre's directive for inter-state movement of pigs.

Interestingly, despite having 38 per cent of the total pig population in the country, the northeast has been unable to meet the growing demand for pork in the region.

The scarcity is being fulfilled by imports from Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where pork is not too popular among meat-eaters.

Improved pig varieties from other states are also in demand in Northeast.

It is to be noted that Assam had the highest pig population across India, at over two million in 2019. Followed by Jharkhand (1.28), Meghalaya (0.71), Uttar Pradesh (0.41). Pig population across the country, however, declined by over 12 per cent between 2012 and 2019.