Lok Sabha Question No. 300 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Impact of African Swine Fever on Assam’s Pig
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 300 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  JULY, 2025

## IMPACT OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER ON ASSAM'S PIG

## 300. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to State:

- (a) whether  the  government  is  aware  that  African  Swine  Fever  has  reduced  Assam's  pig population by over eight lakh during the last five years;
- (b) If so, the assistance being provided to affected farmers and backyard piggery units in Assam;
- (c) whether the Government has any plans to assist the State Government in disease control, vaccination development, or restocking of healthy pig populations; and
- (d) the steps being taken to prevent further outbreaks and protect livelihoods in the pig-rearing sector in the State?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

(PROF. S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)

- (a) As per the information received from the State of Assam, during the last five years, 44596 pigs have died due to African Swine Fever (ASF)and 8295 pigs have been culled to prevent the spread of the disease.
- (b) Department  under  Assistance  to  States  for  Control  of  Animal  Diseases  (ASCAD) of Livestock  Health  &  Disease  Control  Program  (LHDCP)  provided  compensation  of  Rs. 225.00 lakh for culling as per the demand of State on sharing basis to compensate the affected pig  owners.  Further,  the  State  has  informed  that  344  farmers  were  compensated  against culling of their pigs during last five years.
- (c) and (d) M easures taken by the Department are as under:
- i. National Action Plan on African Swine Fever (ASF) has been formulated during 2020 for Prevention, Control and Containment of African Swine Fever (ASF) incorporating measures such as movement control, stamping out pigs within a 1 km infected zone, cleaning and disinfection, restrictions on pig feeding, limitations on pork meat, and enhanced surveillance including bio security measures before and
- during the outbreak of disease. Advisories are issued to the States including meetings and visit of Central Team.
- ii. The  Crisis  Management  Plan  (CMP)  for  livestock  disease  was  prepared  in  2024, outlining  a  structured  approach  for  managing  and  treating  outbreaks.  It  includes scientific methods for carcass disposal, particularly of pigs, and details measures for swift  containment,  mitigation  and  reduction  of  pandemic  risks  through  effective prevention and control strategies.
- iii. Under  Animal  Husbandry  Infrastructure  Development  Fund  (AHIDF)  of  NLM, support is provided for setting up of breed improvement/breed multiplication farm for Pigs as per the guidelines, which include loan upto 90% from lending organizations. Also, National Livestock Mission (NLM)-Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP), provides 50% capital subsidy for establishment of pig farm as per the guidelines. Total 13 project with project cost of Rs. 7.67 crore have been approved under EDP and the fund of Rs 1.3 crore has been approved for 6 projects for the State of Assam.
- iv. As communicated by the State of Assam, a joint DBT research project of College of Veterinary  Science,  Guwahati,  IIT,  Guwahati  and  Guru Angad  Dev  Veterinary  & Animal  Science  University,  Ludhiana  has  been  initiated  in  respect  to  diagnosis, epidemiology and vaccine development. At present, there is no vaccine available for ASF.
- v. The State  of Assam is  supporting  the  pig  farmers  by  distributing  animals  of  high genetic  merit  under  a  project  "Pig  Revolution  in Assam  through Animals  of  high genetic merit (PRAtahm)".
- vi. States/UTs are financially supported for establishment and strengthening of laboratories,  research  &  innovation,  capacity  building  and  training  on  topics  like Good Animal Husbandry Practices, biosecurity/sanitary measures, vector control etc. During 2024-25 the State of Assam had been provided a fund of rupees 377.885 lakhs under ASCAD.

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