By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 19: VPP chief and Nongkrem MLA, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Tuesday cornered the state government over the recent cases of animal diseases viz., African Swine Fever and Lumpy Skin Disease, which caused hardships to pig and cattle rearing community in the state.
Highlighting the matter during the Question Hour of the Assembly, Ardent asked the government if it would compensate the farmers in view of the death of pigs and cattle caused by the two diseases.
“In the wake of the diseases, many farmers were forced to close down their farms. The farmers are in distress due to the deaths of the cattle and pigs from these two diseases. Even their businesses were dislocated. Will the government provide compensation,” he said.
Basaiawmoit further inquired if the Veterinary department has conducted any investigation to discern the causes that led to ASF and LSD outbreak.
He even alleged that African Swine Fever could have been caused by the piglets that the government distributed ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls.
“I have been informed that the pigs in the state have contracted the ASF after the department distributed piglets to the farmers under the piggery mission which was brought from outside the state. I would like to know if this observation is true or not,” the VPP legislator said.
With regard to LSD, Basaiawmoit said that the farmers told him that there were no medicines yet to treat cattle infected with the disease. He asked whether his was right.
Replying to his inquiries, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister AL Hek said there is no compensation for cattle currently.
He further told the House that the department is still conducting the verification and assessment of the cattle deaths due to LSD. “We will provide the compensation to the farmers after this exercise,” Hek said.
The minister also claimed that the department has provided both vaccination and medicine to the cattle as a preventive measure following the outbreak of LSD.
Congress MLA Saleng Sangma, on the other hand, sought information about sanitation measures and the availability of biochamber facilities in the department.
The Congress also questioned if there are means to protect poultry, livestock, piggeries, etc., from a potential disease outbreak.
He advocated the need for a bio chamber facility to assist in disease prevention and control in the future.
On Sangma’s concerns, Hek said that the government has initiated awareness campaigns in local language, established a helpline, provided treatment to cattle, and deployed 168 rapid response teams.