Representatives from Thai Binh province addresses the teleconference (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hasasked leaders of cities and provinces to take responsibility in front of thelaw and himself for their locality’s performance in preventing and fighting theAfrican swine fever (ASF).
The PM made the request in a teleconference held by theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on March 4 to seek urgentsolutions to control the ASF outbreak.
As of March 3, within one month, the virus has been reportedin 202 household farms in the seven cities and provinces of Hung Yen, ThaiBinh, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Hanoi, Ha Nam, and Hai Duong.
More than 4,200 infected pigs, weighing a total of 297 tonnes,have been destroyed.
Experience learnt from countries affected by the virus showsthat the major reason of the fast spreading of the virus are transportation,poor hygiene in farms, and the inadequate treatment of redundant pig feed.
Participants at the event proposed a number of proposals onhow to control the epidemic as well as support policies for households who havehad their ASF-infected pigs destroyed, thus preventing the selling of ill pigsto the market.
PM Phuc asked the whole political system, sectors,businesses, and farmers to strictly implement comprehensive measures to controlASF.
The government leader requested sectors and agencies to strengthencommunications work to encourage farmers not to allow the virus to spreadfurther by not trading and transporting ill and dead pigs, not consuming deadpigs, not disposing dead pigs irresponsibly by dumping them in surroundingareas, and not using untreated redundant animal feed.
The PM ordered the clarification of reasons behind the spreadingof the virus to the current seven provinces. Meanwhile, along with the strict controllingof the virus development, it is necessary to support farmers in destroyinginfected pigs, he said, asking participants to consider the MARD’s proposal ofcompensating farmers with cash equivalent to 80 percent of the value of the buriedpig.
It is also crucial to ensure transparency in thecompensation process, the PM noted. –VNA
VNA
