Syllabus: GS Paper III & V: Agriculture

Why in the News?

African Swine Fever continues to cause repeated outbreaks in Assam and the Northeast, leading to large-scale pig deaths, loss of livelihoods, and fear among small pig farmers.

More About the News

• Since the arrival of African Swine Fever (ASF) in 2020, Assam has lost an estimated 8 lakh pigs, reducing the population from 21 lakhs to just 13 lakhs. 
• The dual threat of ASF and Classical Swine Fever (CSF)—diseases that look nearly identical in the field but require different management—is pushing the region’s primary source of tribal livelihood and nutritional security toward a collapse.

Understanding the Dual Threat: ASF vs. CSF

While both are viral and devastating to pigs, they are fundamentally different.

• African Swine Fever (ASF):
  • Nature: A highly contagious DNA virus with a mortality rate approaching 100%.
  • African Swine Fever was first reported in Kenya in 1921 and remained confined to Africa till the mid-20th century.
  • Status in India: First confirmed in 2020 via Arunachal Pradesh; no indigenous vaccine is currently available.
  • Indian pigs lack herd immunity, resulting in very high mortality, often close to 100 percent.
  • A vaccine developed in Vietnam is being used in some countries, but experts warn of genetic recombination risks.
  • Resistance: The virus is incredibly hardy; it survives for months in frozen, salted, or air-dried pork.
• Classical Swine Fever (CSF):
  • Nature: Also known as Hog Cholera, caused by a Pestivirus. It has been prevalent in India since 1944.
  • Status in India: A vaccine exists and is part of the National Animal Disease Control Programme, but coverage remains below the required 80% threshold.

Economic and Social Impact

Piggery is not just a business in the Northeast; it is a safety net for resource-poor families.

• Livelihood Loss: Small-scale farmers are quitting the business as insurance companies are often reluctant to cover ASF losses.
• Trade Barriers: Being transboundary diseases, outbreaks lead to immediate bans on the movement of pork, hitting the “meat export” potential and local supply chains.
• Biosecurity Gaps: Practices like swill feeding (feeding kitchen waste to pigs) and open rearing facilitate the rapid spread of these viruses.

Major challenge

• Under field conditions, ASF and CSF cannot be easily distinguished.
• There is no low-cost point-of-care diagnostic test for rapid confirmation.
• This delay leads to late reporting and uncontrolled spread.

Government Schemes and Policy Framework

The Government of India and the Assam State Government are tackling the crisis through several initiatives:

• Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP): An umbrella scheme that provides 90% central funding for Northeastern states to control animal diseases.
• Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD): Provides financial aid for vaccination, surveillance, and compensation for culling.
• National Action Plan on ASF: Formulated in 2020, it mandates strict culling within a 1-km radius of an epicenter and scientific disposal of carcasses using lime-layering.
• PRAtahm (Pig Revolution in Assam): A state initiative focused on enhancing pig breeds and genetic merit to revive the sector.
• International Collaboration: The first pig schools of India are to be established in the Bodoland Territorial Region in Assam to enhance technical know-how and biosecurity about pig farming in partnership with Denmark. 

Way Forward: A Science-Based Approach

• Indigenous Vaccine Development: Collaborative research is currently underway at IIT Guwahati and the College of Veterinary Science to develop an ASF vaccine suited for Indian genotypes.
• Point-of-Care Testing: Developing rapid field kits is crucial because farmers currently cannot tell if their pig has the treatable CSF or the fatal ASF.
• Strict Border Vigilance: Enhancing surveillance along porous international borders to stop the entry of contaminated carcasses or illegal trade.

Exam Hook: Key Takeaways

• Economic Fragility: The piggery sector is vital for “Nutritional Security” and “Economic Growth” in tribal regions.
• Policy Gap: While CSF has a vaccine, the lack of an ASF vaccine and high “Incursion Risk” from neighboring countries make the Northeast a permanent hotspot.
• Governance: Success depends on 80%+ vaccination coverage for CSF and a robust “Compensation Mechanism” for ASF-affected farmers.

Important Terms to Know

• Herd Immunity: A form of indirect protection from infectious disease that happens when a large percentage of a population becomes immune, making it hard for the disease to spread.
• Culling: The mass slaughter of animals to prevent the further spread of a contagious disease.
• Biosecurity: Measures taken to prevent the introduction or spread of harmful organisms (like viruses) to livestock.
• Zoonotic Disease: A disease that can jump from animals to humans (Note: Neither ASF nor CSF is zoonotic, unlike Swine Flu).
• Swill Feeding: The practice of feeding food scraps or kitchen waste to pigs, which is a major risk factor for spreading ASF.

Mains Question: “Analyze the socio-economic impact of African Swine Fever on the rural economy of Northeast India. To what extent can biosecurity and the National Animal Disease Control Programme mitigate this crisis?” (250 words)

One line wrap: Combatting swine fever in India requires a shift from reactive culling to proactive biosecurity and indigenous vaccine innovation.

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