SHILLONG, Sep 26: In the midst of apprehensions that the death of piglets distributed by the government under ‘Rural Backyard Piggery Scheme’ was due to some disease, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has revealed that the animals died because of issues related to their transportation.
According to the CM, it would have been a big issue if these piglets would have died from any disease.
“These piglets have to travel almost two to three days while they are being transported from different parts of the country. Obviously, transportation of thousands of piglets can have casualties since they are transported in very tough and difficult situations,” the CM told reporters here on Monday.
The CM felt that their deaths were unavoidable as he reasoned that one cannot provide all of them with the attention they need.
He reiterated that the piglets did not die because of a disease, but admitted that the animals have died.
“It is purely because of the challenges of the transportation. We have got reports and we have proof that the piglets have died. We have assured the beneficiaries that we will be replacing them,” the CM said.
He, however, said that there is no concern about any kind of sickness in the piglets.
Reportedly, several piglets died within few days or a week after they were distributed to the farmers. The death of these piglets is a huge loss for these farmers.
Few of the farmers have even revealed that some piglets died the following day after they were handed over to them.
According to the farmers, piglets have died within a week or two weeks after the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department distributed them.
Claiming that the piglets distributed under the government scheme were unhealthy, the farmers pointed out that the piglets had developed some kind of ulcer in their mouth and rashes in their body before eventually dying.
“It is a huge loss to the livestock farmers since we are expecting to benefit from this piggery scheme launched by the state government,” the farmers said.
It may be recalled that as many as 320 livestock farmers of Umsning and Jirang constituencies recently received piglets under the piggery scheme during a programme held at Byrnihat, where Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma was also present.
Reportedly, piglets distributed among farmers in Umsning have also died.
According to official sources, pigs of local breed have also taken ill after they were kept in the same backyard as the piglets.
“We are collecting samples and it will be sent for testing to know the cause of death of these piglets,” official sources said.
