Nongpoh, Nov 3: The Hills Farmers Union (HFU) has urged the Ri Bhoi district administration to set up an animal checkgate to monitor livestock entering the state—including pigs, cattle, poultry, and other animals..
Representatives of the union and leaders of Ri Bhoi today met Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal and urged the district administration to take serious measures to address the crisis faced by pig farmers in the district, especially in the face of the suspected outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF).
They pointed out that the absence of such checkpoints has made it easy for animals from outside the state to enter Meghalaya unchecked, posing a severe threat to local farmers.
HFU General Secretary Alforsebirth Kharsyntiew told reporters that the union has received multiple reports from farmers in different villages across Ri Bhoi about mass pig deaths due to the suspected ASF outbreak.
He emphasised that this has caused tremendous hardship to farmers, particularly those who had taken loans under the Piggery Mission, as they now face difficulties in repaying their debts after losing their livestock.
He further stated that the union has urged both the Deputy Commissioner and the District Veterinary Officer to take prompt and effective action to contain the spread of the disease, which might have been introduced through pigs brought in from outside the state without proper veterinary inspection. “The real burden falls on the local farmers because when dozens of pigs die, no one takes responsibility for the heavy financial losses they suffer,” he added.
Kharsyntiew said the union would also meet the Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department and the Chief Minister to discuss the issue.
