29
New Delhi: The NE region is among the least affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but its piggery which accounts for nearly 40 per cent of total farming of this animal is the worst hit.
Pig farmers of Assam have sought the government’s help to allow sale of pork at least in all pork-consuming districts. A memorandum stating that the rise of swine fever and ongoing corona crisis has taken a toll on pig population was submitted to the state agricultural minister recently.
The memorandum by The North East Progressive Pig Farmers Association stated that the lockdown has completely closed the avenues of sale of pork by the farmers. “Piggery is one of the most progressive sectors in the state and many youths are taking up commercial piggery as a source of livelihood but they are in distress,” it said.
Thousands of pigs affected with classical swine fever have already died in Jonai district of Assam and it has started taking a toll.
It is an irony that the government has restricted transport to a great extent and moving live animals or their meat is just next to impossible in this siltation where vehicles are not available and not to speak of police harassment.
Normal weight of a pig is 150 kg but some of them have surpassed it and will easily grow to 250kg in the next few months if the situation doesn’t change. But that is neither a good news for the animal nor for the farmers who not able to rear it or sale it.
This was not the scenario before the outbreak of the pandemic sine pig farming is one of the most sustainable industries. Pigs are very hardy and thrive under extreme conditions and their ability to digest a broad range of food sources makes it so unique.
The lockdown and its extension has come down heavily on small-scale farmers specially those who rear the pigs in their backyard mostly done in Northeast. They source their pig feed from hotels and canteen surplus to minimize their costs and also supply them pork.
But with the hotels being shut during the lockdown, producers are facing major issues with feed and might be forced to sell their animals to bigger farmers at significantly lower prices.
But not being able to sell when pigs are market ready will result in overcrowding in the farm and management will be challenging for them. Shortage of labour in these big farms has already made things difficult for them.
Veterinary experts fear that restricted movement of animals could give rise to overcrowding and disease in pig herds.
The animals might develop bacterial diseases, like diarrhoea, which could be fatal if no timely treatment is provided and could spread to other animals and they could also be stressed. But even then there is no veterinary aid avaible because of the lock down.
But the big pig farmers have their own story of woos. Beyond a point they too face the problems of space, no marketing and lack of food. Elsewhere, some farmers have resorted to mass killing in large pits.