We need a regional approach to deal with ASF - Dr Sugri

Accra, Sept. 4, GNA – Mr Tia Alfred Sugri, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture in charge of Livestock, has called for a more effective control and a regional approach to deal with the African Swine Fever (ASF).

“The disease which spread across international borders has crippled the livelihood of pig producers as pig production systems rely on agro-industrial by-products to create their quality animal products.”

Dr Sugri said this at a three-day technical workshop on Sub-regional strategy for the prevention and control of African Swine Fever in West Africa.

The disease has four main effects on the livestock producer as it reduces herds and flocks dramatically, causes trading partners to put trade barriers and this in turn leads to the reduction in consumption which also cripples small scale farmers.

The workshop is aimed at helping to clarify the current status of the pig value chain and situation of African Swine Fever (ASF) in West Africa countries and the opportunities which exist for its prevention and control.

It would also enable FAO, ECOWAS and other sub-regional partners to address the issue of ASF and prepare a sub-regional strategy for the prevention and control taking into account the potential gaps identified.

Dr Sugri said the ASF is an infectious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs of all breeds and ages and appealed to small scale farmers to change their mode of production in order to control the spread of the disease.

The first outbreak of African swine fever was reported in Ghana in 1999 in Greater Accra, Central and Volta regions and claimed about 600 pigs whilst another 6,927 pigs were destroyed with adequate compensation paid to the owners.

He said the outbreak at the time prompted the government to seek external assistance to combat the emergency of which the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) contributed 6,000 through a subsequent project entitled Emergency assistance to eradicate African swine fever to prevent the spread of the disease in the sub-region.

Mr Musa Saihou Mbenga, Sub-regional Coordinator of FAO, said the pig sector plays important role in food security and income generation particularly for the marginalised sector of the society.

He said the sub-region has about 13 million pigs which are in the hands of small holders producers majority are women who are engaged in the pig production generating additional income for their families.

Mr Mbenga said there is no treatment or vaccine to prevent the disease yet, however, 'the FAO is working with its technical partners, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the African Union-Interafrican Bureau of Animal Resources (IBAR) to develop the ASF prevention and control strategy at the continental level.'

He said the workshop is part of FAO's effort to gain a better understanding of the situation and opportunities for its control to enable them to design synergies and sub-regional strategy.

About fifty participants drawn from the African sub-region including directors and epidemiologists of national veterinary services, regional economic communities, pig/pork producers association, experts and civil society organisations are attending the workshop.

Participants would deliberate on issues bordering on the current status of ASF and its socio-economic impact, develop sub-regional strategy for prevent and control, identify existing policies and current measures implemented by each country.

GNA