North East India Regional Workshop on African swine fever Management Planning
Dispur,Rongili Barta- To discuss the status of African Swine Fever (ASF) in North Eastern States a regional workshop was held at Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara. The event was jointly organized by Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department, Govt. of Assam, Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services (ARIAS) Society and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). The open session of the workshop was chaired by Atul Bora, Minister of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Govt. of Assam. In his speech he mentioned that African swine fever has spread to over 21 districts of the state and as per the Government figure, around 39,340 pigs were infected and died because of ASF. He also said that there is no treatment or vaccine against the disease, so controlling the disease is a major challenge for every affected state of North East. If the disease is not addressed on a priority basis, the pig sector in the country will have to face enormous losses. So, he has requested the commissioner of Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India to help and support Assam as well as North Eastern States to overcome this situation. The key objective of the workshop is to discuss the existing control and management approaches of ASF and the experience gained for future approach. The Deputy Director General (Biosciences), ILRI Dr. Dieter Schillinger in his address has discussed the present situation of ASF, a highly infectious and fatal disease of pigs causing mortality up to 100%. Keeping this in view, the Senior Agricultural Economist of World Bank Mr. Bekzod Shamsier highlighted the need of technical support from International Experts experienced in ASF research and management for proper design and draft an effective ASF control and management plan. Jayant Narlikar, Commissioner & Secretary of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department, Govt. of Assam mentioned the need of top priority of the pig mortality and the control and management of the situation. The regional workshop on ASF was attended by the directors and representatives of North Eastern States, decision makers (technical and bureaucratic) and the officials of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department both central and state as well as the experts from ILRI and ICAR.