Thousands of pigs in farms in North Sumatra have died from African swine fever in the past six months, followed by similar cases in Bali and East Nusa Tenggara. The government has yet to come up with solutions.
MEDAN, KOMPAS – After six months of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak and a massive street protest demanding government attention in mid-February, pig farmers in North Sumatra have yet to find a solution. The outbreak continues to spread, leading to 47,143 deaths in 22 regencies and cities. The figure does not include the outbreak in Bali and possibly East Nusa Tenggara, where more than 2,000 pigs are believed to have died from the disease.
The ASF outbreak hit around 700 farmers in Helvetia village, Sunggal district, Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra. A majority of pigpens in the pig-farming regions were empty on Friday (21/2/2020). However, some farmers have restocked their pigs.
As a result, the restocked pigs caught the disease and died. This portrays the poor training and information dissemination the farmers receive.
“The government has not given us any solutions. I restocked my pigpen with a loan. I ended up having a loss again,” said Helvetia village farmer Jurtini boru Siahaan, 55.
Pigpens should have stayed empty during the outbreak as there is no known cure for ASF. The virus can stay for more than 100 days inside pens. ASF entered Indonesia through North Sumatra in September last year. At first, massive pig deaths occurred in Dairi, Humbang Hasundutan and Deli Serdang regencies. After two months, the North Sumatra government insisted that the deaths were due to hog cholera.
It should not be hard to control hog cholera, caused by the classical swine fever (CSF), as there is a vaccine for it. A laboratory test by the Medan Veterinary Agency found that the deaths were caused by ASF instead of hog cholera.
However, the lab test was not immediately followed by an outbreak declaration from the government. Law No. 18/2009 on farms and animal health stipulates that the Agriculture Minister has the authority to declare an outbreak.
Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo declared an ASF outbreak on Dec. 12, 2019, after the disease spread to 16 regencies and cities in North Sumatra. In line with the farms and animal health law, an outbreak declaration must be followed by adequate mitigation efforts and funding. However, as of now, the North Sumatra government is still complaining about the lack of funding.
“We have proposed funding to the Agriculture Ministry but it is still in the process,” said North Sumatra farming and food security agency head Azhar Harahap.
In Bali, around 1,000 pigs in several regencies have also died. It is believed that ASF has hit the province, although no official statement has been made. Badung regency sees the highest number of pig deaths, at 500.
Badung agriculture and food security agency head I Wayan Wijana said he would not rush into any conclusion following these deaths. He urged the public to wait for an official statement from the Agriculture Ministry.
Agriculture and food security agencies of provinces, regencies and cities are urging locals to stay calm. Many are saying that they do not know whether the pigs are ASF-positive or negative.
Farmers hit
Amid the uncertainty, farmers are hit hard. Farmers in Helvetia village do not even understand the deadly disease. Helvetia farmer Soean Siagian, 65, said that 30 pigs in his farm died in September and October last year. He suffered a loss of around Rp 75 million (US$5,403.61).
The surviving pigs are of little consolation, as prices have plummeted from Rp 30,000 per kilogram to Rp 10,000 per kg.
“It is difficult to sell these days,” he said.
North Sumatra Pig Farmers Association head Hendri Duin Sembiring said the government should carry out steps to ensure that North Sumatra would be ASF free. Pork consumption campaigns must also be launched to deplete the pig population and cut off the ASF virus spread. What has happened has been the exact opposite.
Pork consumption has nosedived as many fear the virus, despite it not being zoonotic.
“Customary events no longer use pigs. Because of this, pig prices continue to plunge and farmers are hit hard,” he said.
It is difficult to sell these days.
In Bali, consumers have varied responses. However, many believe that pork is still safe to consume when properly cooked. Denpasar resident Rai Misno, for instance, said he had no worries about consuming pork. He keeps his place clean and cooks his pork properly.
To end the outbreak, the Bali branch of the Indonesian Pig Farmers Association (Gupbi) has agreed to slaughter all pigs within 5 kilometers of outbreak spots. However, it demands a compensation of Rp 2.5 million per 100 kg of livestock.
Agriculture Ministry animal health director Fajar Sumping Tjaturasa said on Monday that there was no suggestion of a mass slaughter of livestock in Bali and North Sumatra. While ASF has no known cure, its spread can be mitigated through biosecurity.
Anthrax
In Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, it is not ASF that causes widespread concern among farmers. Instead, it is anthrax that emerged last year. Hundreds of livestock have died suddenly. Only a few have been declared anthrax-positive.
The disease was first found in Grogol IV hamlet, Bejiharjo village, Karangmojo district, in April 2019. At first, five cows died. Then, the disease grew rapidly into an outbreak.
The Gunung Kidul agriculture and farming agency quickly administers antibiotics and anthrax vaccine.
“The bacteria spread is curbed to a radius of 5 km from where it was first found,” said Gunung Kidul agriculture and food agency’s animal and veterinary health section head Retno Widyastuti.
As of now, 1,850 cows and 4,095 goats have been vaccinated. Furthermore, 3,693 cows and 8.972 goats have been given antibiotics.anthrax