Agriculture Ministry will seek Bt2.9 billion to fight ASF
The Agriculture Ministry plans to seek an emergency fund of Bt2.9 billion to combat African Swine Fever (ASF) and will consult China as well as Vietnam and other countries next week on measures to tackle it.
Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sri-on unveiled the plan after a meeting of the national committee on the prevention of ASF.
He said the committee received a report that the ASF virus was detected in 13 provinces from January 10 to 25 – Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok, Buri Ram, Suphan Buri, Phang-nga, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chumphon, Mahasakham, Mae Hong Son, Si Sa Ket, Khon Kaen, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Nong Bua Lampu.
“On February 3, the Livestock Development Department will consult with its counterparts in China, Vietnam and other countries where ASF has been detected to implement measures for dealing with it,” Chalermchai said.
After the department drafts a comprehensive plan to contain the spread of ASF, the Agriculture Ministry will seek Bt2.93 billion from an urgent central fund for the measures. The amount will include remedies for small-time pig farmers, Chalermchai added.
He said livestock officials will comb the rest of the country to check if ASF has spread to other provinces.
The minister said not all the 13 provinces were declared ASF zones. The Livestock Department has only declared spread zones within a 5km radius of areas where the virus was found.
During the meeting, the committee was informed that 202 pigs had died of ASF in the 13 provinces and officials have culled 425 of the animals to contain the spread.
The committee learned that there are now 107,157 pig farmers in the country, a 43 per cent drop from 189,152 in 2021.
The Livestock Department told the meeting that Bt1.48 billion will be used for containment measures while the rest would be used to pay compensation and for rehabilitation of small-time pig farmers.
