98 swine raisers affected by ASF receive aid from agency

ASIPULO, Ifugao – Ninety-eight backyard swine raisers from five towns of the province who suffered economic losses due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) received assistance from the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera.
DA-CAR personnel with staff from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVET) and Municipal Agriculture Office distributed a total of P3,730,000 covering 746 heads of pigs owned by swine raisers in Asipulo, Banaue, Hingyon, Kiangan, and Lagawe.
The DA gave P5,000 per head indemnity to a maximum of 20 heads of pig per affected farmer.
The cash assistance aims to alleviate production losses and to encourage early reporting by animal farmers of actual or suspected cases of diseases of their animals to avoid further spread.
Of the  98 farmers and swine raisers indemnified, 30 are from Lagawe with a total of 210 heads of pigs costing P1,050,000; 17 farmers from Hingyon with 208 heads of pigs and were paid P1,040,000; 20 farmers from Asipulo with 187 pigs  received  P935,000; 22 pig raisers from Banaue with 75 heads at P375,000; and nine raisers from Kiangan with 66 heads received P330,000.
Ferdinand Dunuan of the PVET said the backyard swine farmers and raisers are those whose pigs were affected by the culling or depopulation operation in order to contain and prevent the spread of the ASF. It is attested by staff of the local government and officials together with the DA-CAR and supported by complete indemnification documents.
The farmers said the indemnification can at least mitigate the economic losses they suffered due to the ASF which was worsened by the impact of the Covid-19.
ASF has no known cure and vaccine. It can wipe out the swine industry if the spread is not contained or if measures are not undertaken to prevent it from infecting other animals.
The disease was observed in Ifugao in January. It slowly spread to other towns and while efforts and measures have been undertaken to contain it, the lockdown due to the threat of Covid-19 pandemic that started in March complicated the problem and affected more farmers. – Daniel B. Codamon