Mizoram loses Rs 960 Cr to African Swine fever, over 71,000 pigs dead

Mizoram has incurred an estimated loss of Rs 960 crore due to the prolonged outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) , which has killed more than 71,000 pigs since the disease was first detected in the state in March 2021, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister C Lalsawivunga informed the Assembly on Friday.

Addressing the House, Lalsawivunga said the viral disease has dealt a severe blow to the livestock sector, particularly pig rearers who form the backbone of rural livelihoods in the state. A total of 71,912 pigs have died so far, affecting 8,966 families . Of these, 52,979 pigs were culled as part of containment measures to prevent further spread of the infection.

During the current 2025–26 financial year alone , the state has recorded the death of 9,711 pigs , while 3,615 others were culled , the minister added.

Highlighting a major policy intervention, Lalsawivunga said the state government under Chief Minister Lalduhoma declared ASF a “state-specific disaster” in 2024 , enabling compensation not only for culled animals but also for pigs that died naturally due to the disease.

“Under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) guidelines, an ex gratia of Rs 4,000 per pig is being provided to affected families,” the minister said, adding that over Rs 30 crore has already been disbursed as compensation.

African Swine Fever has emerged as a major threat to India’s pig population over the past five years, with repeated outbreaks reported in northeastern states including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram. Government estimates indicate that several lakh pigs have died nationwide since 2020 , resulting in losses running into thousands of crores of rupees .

The disease, which has no known vaccine and is fatal to pigs, has disrupted pork supply chains and pushed many small farmers into financial distress, particularly in the Northeast where pork is a key source of income and nutrition.

Officials said Mizoram’s decision to classify ASF as a state-specific disaster was aimed at providing faster relief and strengthening disease surveillance, while urging farmers to adopt stricter biosecurity measures to prevent further outbreaks.