Aizawl: Pig farmers in Mizoram are grappling with significant losses exceeding ₹20 crore due to the persistent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) since February. The disease has led to the death of over 5,430 pigs and the culling of more than 10,300 pigs, according to officials.

The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (AHV) Department reported that the ASF outbreak continues to wreak havoc, with an average of over 100 pigs dying and more than 200 being culled daily across various districts due to the infectious disease. The outbreak has affected pigs in over 160 villages across six districts: Aizawl, Champhai, Lunglei, Saitual, Khawzawl, and Serchhip. The disease was first identified in Mizoram on February 9.

ASF was first reported near Mizoram's borders in 2021, leading to the death of 33,420 pigs and piglets that year. In 2022, 12,800 pigs and piglets succumbed to the disease, and 1,040 pigs died in 2023. The initial case in Mizoram was detected in Lungsen village, Lunglei district, along the Bangladesh border in mid-March 2021. Since then, the disease has recurred annually.

In response, the AHV department has declared numerous villages and localities across the six affected districts as infected zones under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animals Act, 2009. To curb the spread, the department has prohibited the supply of pigs, piglets, and pork from these infected areas.

Additionally, the state government has banned the import of pigs and piglets from neighboring states and countries where ASF outbreaks are frequent. Officials noted that ASF outbreaks typically occur during warmer climates and pre-monsoon rains in the state. To mitigate the impact, the government has provided compensation to several hundred families who have lost pigs due to the outbreak.

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