KUCHING, Nov 9: The Sarawak government has allocated RM5 million this year to assist and indemnify pig farmers affected by African Swine Fever (ASF).
Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the size of indemnification payments to be released to affected farmers will be determined by the number of pigs culled.
“The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak is in the process of identifying and verifying the commercial, semi-commercial and backyard pig farmers whose farms were infected with ASF and have agreed to depopulate their farms to contain the spread of the disease.
“Currently, it is estimated that some 32 commercial and semi-commercial pig farms and some 600 backyard farms have been affected by this disease and about 32,500 pigs were culled,” he said in a press statement today.
Dr Rundi added that this exercise has somewhat managed to contain ASF from spreading to other commercial farms and later for affected pig farmers to restock their farms when it is safe to do so and when better security measures are in place.
“The situation of ASF is expected to improve in the following years. Effective culling with financial assistance from the government will fast-track ASF elimination in the State, thus enabling the pig industry to recover quickly from this disease outbreak.
“The assistance is to help these farmers during these trying times as well as with the loss of their main source of income,” he said.
Dr Rundi reiterated that ASF is not a zoonotic disease and it is safe to consume pork and pork products sold in the retail shops and that have been veterinary-inspected.
“Prices of pork have gone up slightly due to the higher feed cost but are relatively cheaper when compared to pork prices in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia,” he added. — DayakDaily
