Daijiworld Media Network - Aizawl
Aizawl, Jan 19: Mizoram’s pig farming community has suffered severe economic damage after an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) led to losses estimated at around Rs 115 crore between March and December 2025, officials from the state government said.
According to the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department (AHVD), more than 9,710 pigs succumbed to the highly contagious disease during this period, while an additional 3,620 pigs had to be culled as a preventive measure to contain its spread. The combined impact of deaths and culling has dealt a heavy blow to farmers who depend on pig rearing for their livelihoods.
Officials noted that the situation has eased considerably with the onset of winter, as the intensity of the outbreak has declined sharply in recent weeks.
ASF was first detected in Mizoram on March 21, 2021, at Lungsen village in Lunglei district, close to the Bangladesh border. Since then, the disease has continued to resurface intermittently, claiming the lives of over 72,000 pigs across the state and affecting more than 12,500 pig-rearing families. The cumulative financial loss over nearly five years has crossed Rs 1,011 crore. To curb further transmission, authorities have culled nearly 52,980 pigs since the outbreak began.
The Centre has so far released Rs 14.51 crore as compensation to affected farmers, while the Mizoram government has sought an additional Rs 24.94 crore from New Delhi. The state has also provided relief from its own resources to support impacted families.
Among recent years, 2024 proved to be the most devastating, with losses estimated at Rs 336.40 crore, followed closely by 2021 and 2022. In 2025, Siaha district has emerged as the worst-hit area, recording over 3,645 pig deaths across 45 villages and localities, impacting about 1,370 families. Nearly 970 pigs were culled there to contain the outbreak. Other affected districts include Lawngtlai, Khawzawl, Hnahthial, Lunglei, Aizawl, Mamit and Champhai.
The state government has appealed to farmers to remain alert and fully cooperate with veterinary officials. AHVD teams are conducting regular field visits to monitor pig populations, enforce biosecurity measures and respond swiftly to new cases.
Experts warn that ASF remains a serious threat due to its extremely high fatality rate, which can reach 100 per cent among infected animals. The disease affects domestic pigs and wild boars, has no known treatment or vaccine, and spreads rapidly. However, it poses no risk to humans.
Pork is a staple meat across the northeastern states, supporting an industry estimated to be worth Rs 8,000–10,000 crore annually, with Assam as the largest supplier. Specialists believe Mizoram’s unfenced borders with Myanmar’s Chin state and Bangladesh may be contributing factors, as cross-border movement of pigs and pork products can facilitate the spread of the virus.