May 8, 2023
Malaysian government urged to compensate farmers for swine culled due to ASF
A Malaysian Member of Parliament (MP) has urged the government to compensate farmers for swine culled due to African swine fever (ASF), Free Malaysia Today reported.
Sim Tze Tzin, MP for Bayan Baru in Penang state, said that some farms had to reduce their breeding capacity by 30% to manage risks, resulting in a pork shortage in the market and a price increase.
He said if a farm's animals contracted ASF, up to 100% of the live swine population could die within 14 days, and once the virus is confirmed, the government will order the culling of live pigs. As a result, wholesalers and consumers have seen their prices increase tenfold in the last year.
Sim said that the industry has been impacted by the rising cost of feed as a result of the Ukraine conflict, as well as global commodity prices, adding that labour shortages have increased production costs.
He proposed that the government provide compensation to farmers in order to boost their confidence in continuing to breed pigs despite the high risk of ASF.
He said inorder to be eligible for compensation, farmers must commit to breeding pigs at no less than 95% of their farm capacity. Increased breeding will ensure market supply and stabilise prices, he said.
He pointed out that chicken farmers had previously received compensation during the Nipah and H1N1 outbreaks.
The veterinary services department allocates capacity or quotas to each farm based on their facilities and market conditions.
He said swine farmers and butchers must collaborate to prevent excessive profiteering on either side, so the government can then monitor prices and intervene if there are market irregularities.
Sim said Malaysia's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security must also determine the best solutions.
ASF was detected in 23 swine farms in Penang state in January, resulting in the culling of approximately 8,000 swine in Seberang Perai Tengah and Seberang Perai Selatan.
- Free Malaysia Today
