Assam poultry

Guwahati, March 12: The Assam government has banned the import of poultry and pig from other parts of the country amid rising cases of bird flu and African Swine Fever (ASF) outside of the northeast.

The ban came into effect on Saturday.

The state government order stipulated that due to the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Jharkhand and Bihar, a temporary entry ban for poultry was imposed via the state’s western border to prevent spread to Assam and the rest of the Northeast.

The order, however, said intra-district and inter-district transportation of live pigs is allowed in the state in the interest of local farmers, subject to adherence to biosecurity measures.

While Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi has witnessed a bird flu outbreak, Bihar is also alert to prevent the avian flu.

Though Assam only recently got relief from the ASF that destroyed piggeries of thousands of farmers last year, the decision to ban pig import has been taken in the wake of reports of ASF from parts of central and western states of the country.

Talking to the media, state animal husbandry, and veterinary minister Atul Bora said that no ASF case has been reported in Assam of late, and the government is concerned about the spread from other states.

“The consumption of pork is far higher than pig production in Assam and other northeastern states. Thus, pigs are brought in large volumes from states like Punjab and Haryana,” Bora said, justifying the ban to save the remaining pig population in the state.

The state government order cautioned that ASF, which is a highly infectious hemorrhagic viral disease of pigs, and the occurrence of the same had been reported from about 120 epicentres in the state. More than two-and-a-half years have elapsed since the first outbreak of ASF in Assam.

Whereas the SOP for the transportation of live pigs is still in force, the order said the entry of ASF-infected live pigs would endanger the population of ASF-free areas in the state.

Bora also discussed issues related to developing piggery & poultry sectors in Assam and the problems faced by the farmers in a meeting earlier in the day.

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“Urged AH & Vety Dept officials and associations to take measures to prevent price rise of pork & chicken meat as transportation of pig & poultry to Assam has been banned,” he tweeted.

ASF had gripped 22 districts of the state last year. About 40,482 pigs died of ASF in the state since the time it was detected in 2020.

Assam’s pig population is about 20 lakh. This figure excludes wild boars.