Aizawl — In a high-level meeting at Raj Bhavan on August 5, Mizoram Governor General Vijay Kumar Singh expressed grave concern over the continuing African Swine Fever (ASF) crisis, which has now plagued the state for over four years. The Governor called for intensified inter-departmental collaboration and greater public participation to control the spread of the endemic disease, citing its devastating socio-economic impact.
Led by Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (A.H. & Vety.) Secretary Pu Lalsangliana, the meeting saw a detailed presentation by Deputy Director Dr. Esther Lalzoliani, who highlighted the grim statistics. Since the first case was reported on March 21, 2021, Mizoram has witnessed the deaths of 69,411 pigs, with another 52,194 culled as a preventive measure. This has affected 11,382 households, leading to an estimated financial loss of a staggering ₹982.16 crore. While a total of ₹1451.915 lakh has been disbursed as compensation to farmers through central and state schemes, officials noted that securing further central assistance remains a major challenge.
With ASF now considered endemic in the state, officials informed the Governor that a long-term solution lies in developing or procuring a vaccine. As no ASF vaccine is currently available in India, the department is exploring options to import promising vaccines from Vietnam. The state’s efforts have received a boost with its selection in the first phase of the Pandemic Fund Project, which will facilitate the upgrade of the state’s Disease Diagnostic Laboratory to achieve NABL accreditation. Officials also mentioned that experts from the National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI) are scheduled to visit the state in September to further assess the situation.
The discussions also focused on bolstering ASF awareness campaigns, improving carcass management, and formulating integrated strategies to tackle the crisis. Governor Singh, who assured full support for the Veterinary Department’s proposals, emphasised that a united front is essential to alleviate the hardships faced by thousands of affected households across the state. The meeting was also attended by Pu Ajit Roy, Secretary to the Governor, and other senior officials from the A.H. & Vety. Department.
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