African Swine Fever continues to devastate Mizoram, causing ₹114.64 crore loss in 2025

African Swine Fever (ASF), a highly contagious viral disease affecting pigs, continued to wreak havoc in Mizoram in 2025, causing an estimated financial loss of ₹114.64 crore and severely impacting thousands of pig-rearing families, officials from the state’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said on Friday.

According to the department, 9,711 pigs died due to ASF between March and December last year, while 3,620 pigs were culled as a preventive measure to contain the spread of the disease. The outbreak affected 3,867 families , many of whom depend on pig farming as a primary source of income.

ASF, which has no vaccine or cure , spreads rapidly through direct contact with infected animals, contaminated feed, equipment, vehicles, and pork products. Once detected, authorities are forced to cull pigs in affected areas, making the disease particularly devastating for small and marginal farmers.

The disease was first reported in Mizoram in March 2021 at Lungsen village in Lunglei district near the Bangladesh border. Since then, ASF has emerged as a persistent crisis in the state. Officials said that over 72,000 pigs have died due to the disease, while 52,979 pigs were culled , affecting more than 12,500 families . The cumulative financial loss since 2021 has crossed ₹1,011 crore .

Mizoram recorded the highest pig fatalities in 2021 , when over 33,000 pigs died , while the highest financial loss was reported in 2024 , estimated at ₹336.4 crore . Pig deaths were also significant in 2022 and 2024, underscoring the recurring nature of the outbreak.

Officials noted that ASF outbreaks generally subside during winter but tend to resurge during warmer months , making long-term containment challenging. The situation is further complicated by backyard pig farming practices and cross-border movement in the northeastern region.

While compensation is provided for pigs culled to control the disease, no financial aid is available for pigs that die due to ASF , adding to farmers’ distress. So far, ₹14.51 crore has been disbursed as compensation for culled pigs up to 2023. A proposal seeking ₹24.94 crore for pigs culled in 2024 has been submitted to the Centre and will be shared equally by the Centre and the state.

Pig farming is an integral part of Mizoram’s rural economy and food culture. Repeated outbreaks of ASF, along with earlier incidents of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), have highlighted the urgent need for stronger biosecurity measures, sustained surveillance, and farmer awareness to prevent future outbreaks and protect livelihoods.