The Manipur Progressive Pig Farmers’ Association (MAPPEA) on Wednesday raised alarm that pig farming, which has been a profitable business in Manipur, will be facing a certain doom in the next few years unless the state veterinary department looks into the issue of mass death of pigs caused by an unknown disease.
The price of pork has been decreasing drastically from Rs 350-400 to Rs 180-200 in the last few weeks while many are seen standing in queues to buy pork at fresh pork vendors.
Meanwhile, a pig farmer on Wednesday deposited the carcass of a pig at the State Veterinary Department, Sanjenthong, Imphal East for an autopsy.
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Joint secretary of MAPPEA Leishangbam Bidyasagar told the media at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, Imphal on Wednesday that due to an epidemic caused by an unknown disease, around 90 percent of pig population in the five valley districts are dead. They are worth around Rs 20 crore and they are gone to waste.
Many farmers get financial loans for piggery business; however, with the mass death of pigs, farmers are facing a major issue and most of them are unable to pay the debts, he added.
He recalled that in 2018, Manipur had faced African Swine Fever (ASF) and many pigs were reported dead. However, the importing of pigs from Dimapur and Myanmar was started due to the high demand of pork in Manipur.
With piggery becoming a profitable business, it was spread widely among the youths of Manipur and importing of pigs from Dimapur and Myanmar also increased, he mentioned. He added that the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 which claimed many pigs by unknown diseases already affected many farmers.
In 2022, MAPPEA approached the state veterinary department to test the carcass of pig to find out the cause of death to find out preventive measures. The state veterinary accepted the approach of the association; however, they were informed to carry all the expenses of autopsy, testing, vehicle fare to carry carcass, charge of sanitization and others.
Unfortunately, the authorities concerned failed to give a confirmed report on the cause of the death, he added.
The association also submitted a memorandum to the minister concerned to compensate some amount to the affected farmers but no response has been made till date, said Bidyasagar.
He claimed that it seems like there is no state veterinary department in Manipur to look into these issues.
He further appealed to the authority concerned and state government to look into the matter seriously as many of the piggery farmers are facing a severe problem amid the present crisis.
