“Hike subsidy under NLM, make vaccines, livestock feed available”
GUWAHATI: The North East Progressive Pig Farmers’ Association (NEPPFA) has sought greater government intervention towards creation of a favourable eco-system for commercial pig rearing.
The association has also submitted a memorandum in this regard to the government demanding access to veterinary care and vaccines, prevention of entry of African Swine Fever-infected pigs/products to states bordering Myanmar and China, increased subsidy under National Livestock Mission (NLM) besides easy access to loans and insurance.
Addressing the media here on Saturday, NEPPFA president Manoj Kumar Basumatary underlined the need for government support to farmer-entrepreneurs to take up piggery on a commercial basis.
The Northeast is the largest market for pork in India and the meat is worth over a billion US dollars. According to the 19th Livestock Census conducted in 2012, Assam had the highest number of pigs and accounted for 75 per cent of meat produced country.
“But the demand for pork in Northeast exceeds supply. According to data available with North Eastern Council, the region consumes 3 lakh metric tonnes of pork every year with 1.7 lakh metric tonnes exported to meet the local demand. Most of this meat coming from outside the region is without any food safety monitoring in the absence of a thriving piggery sector here,” Basumatary said.
The association further raised concern at the low average weight of pigs in the region, owing to lack of modern rearing techniques.
“The average weight of pigs in the state is very low (30-35kg) compared to states like Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, access to good commercial pig breeds for better productivity becomes imperative. Besides, integration of agriculture sector is also required so that important feed grain ingredients (maize and soya) are grown in the region,” he said.
The pork market of the Northeast is worth over a billion UD dollars.
Formed in April 2018, NEPPFA is an umbrella organisation of more than 200 commercial pig farmers working with the vision of producing quality pork to meet global standards and establishing North East India as a piggery hub.
The potential of the piggery sector in Northeast is growing with an increasing number of youths from the region are taking up the activity on a commercial basis.
“In regard to the African Swine Fever (ASF), which is at our doorstep (having entered China, Cambodia and Vietnam), the government needs to take adequate measures before it takes epidemic form. Of late, we have taken up the matter with the veterinary department which in turn has raised awareness across districts through video conferencing, etc,” Basumatary said.
“ASF however does not pose any threat to human health but can cause extreme financial loss to farmers as there is no vaccine or treatment available. The Centre has also notified the states to take precautions against ASF,” he said.
Asked about the association’s intervention in Meghalaya, where there are about 12 farmers under its ambit, he said that NEPPFA would try to woo more farmers/entrepreneurs in the state to take up piggery on a commercial basis.