Govt intervention sought to stop illegal collection, extortion
Shillong, Sept 10: Pig farmers lifting pigs in their arms staged a striking rally to highlight their plight following the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) and demanded for waiver of loans due to the loss they suffered due to ASF, in Shillong on Thursday.
The protesters marched from Civil Hospital point to Malki Ground in the rally organised under the banner of the Hill Farmers Union (HFU).
HFU general secretary Alfonbirth Kharsyntiew said they have not yet been able to meet the Minister and the Chief Minister to convey the problems faced by pig farmers.
“That is why we requested the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to allow us to have a small gathering of piggery farmers so that we can show and highlight our issues with regard to the outbreak which has badly affected farmers across Meghalaya,” he said.
Kharsyntiew said farmers were initially happy when the government launched the Piggery Mission and cooperative societies and producer groups received lump sum amounts.
“Though it is an interest-free loan, they have to repay it. When the outbreak has affected the whole family, they have become helpless as all pigs have died in the sheds. Now it has become a burden for them to repay the loan,” he said.
He alleged non-implementation of the SOP issued by the AH & Veterinary Department on August 10, 2023, which mandates random testing of live pigs entering from other states, entry through designated check posts and quarantine if disease is detected.
“There is a revised SOP that clearly mentions in point number 5 that any live pigs coming from other states need to undergo random testing and enter through checkpoints, and if disease is found, they should be kept in quarantine centres. But when we tried to find these check posts in entire Ri-Bhoi district, we could not find any.”
“We feel because the government could not set up these check posts, it has led to diseases especially African Swine Fever which has affected pigs and families of farmers,” he said.
“We have brought live pigs to the streets to send a strong message to the government so that it listens to us. If needed, we are ready to sit with officers and the government to discuss these issues,” he added.
Listing the demands, Kharsyntiew said, “We demand setting up of checkpoints with quarantine centres, waiver of loans for all beneficiaries of the Piggery Mission, and compensation for individual farmers who have taken loans specifically for pig rearing.”
The union also sought government intervention to stop illegal collection and extortion.
“We request the government to issue notification through Deputy Commissioners to stop extortion or illegal collection by some miscreants, in which police also have a hand,” he said.
He further demanded a comprehensive agriculture policy for the state.
