Small-scale pig breeders in the Garden Route continue to count their losses amid a wave of African swine fever (ASF) cases in the past month. An estimated 240 pigs have died so far from ASF in KwaNonqaba in Mossel Bay and Thembalethu near George.
While Western Cape veterinary officials have been working hard to assist the affected smallholder farmers and to prevent the further spread of the disease, pig breeders say they are watching with sadness how their animals die in numbers – and their livelihoods disappear – right in front of them.
According to state veterinarian chief director Dr Gin Msiza, incidents have been reported mainly from people farming with pigs in informal settlements.
“Officials are busy engaging with affected farmers and advising them on the management of the disease. The verified number of deaths to date is 160 and the situation is still localised.”
State veterinarian chief director Dr Gin Msiza
He says farmers must maintain good biosecurity and hygiene management practices on their farms to minimise the risk of disease introduction or spread.
‘It feels like we’re fighting a losing battle’
Pig breeder Eric Mdaka, also Thembalethu’s ward councillor, tells Food For Mzansi that he has lost five pigs to date. One of them had been pregnant.
“It is very sad to see our animals dying in numbers right in front of our eyes while the only thing we can do is watch. We feel very helpless. One pig breeder near me lost about nine pigs and he was burying them right in front of me.”
He says the community remains on alert and that they are trying everything in their power to minimise the risk. They feel, however, as if they are fighting a losing battle.
“The authorities did come and we had a meeting with them. However, talk is cheap while there’s nothing happening. They did fumigate and that was it. We were hoping it would be the end of the disease, but that is currently not the case.”
Another pig farmer, Xolisani Booi, says that 35 of his pigs have died and that he has lost everything. No pigs are left on his farm. Raising and feeding pigs is not an easy task, Booi points out, therefore watching them die was like watching money and hard work flush down the drain.
“We remain very hopeless at this stage and we are waiting for authorities to find a solution to the problem. This is not only a problem for pig farmers but for the community at large. We are afraid that this will also jeopardise the health of our people.”
Pig farmer Xolisani Booi
Feeling powerless to the disease, Booi says that all they can do at this stage is to pray for the sickness to pass.
Biosecurity a huge concern in informal pig industry
According to the Western Cape department of agriculture, both of the outbreak areas have been placed under quarantine, which means that pigs or pig products may not be moved out of these areas without a permit issued by the local state veterinary office.
Agricultural MEC Dr Ivan Meyer has emphasises that no effective vaccine is available to prevent ASF.
“I appeal to farmers to continue to implement effective biosecurity measures. This entails keeping pigs confined to avoid contact with other pigs, and humans sanitising their hands, shoes, clothing and equipment before and after contact with pigs or pig products. In addition, if any meat products are fed to pigs, it must be thoroughly cooked to inactivate the virus.”
Western Cape agricultural MEC Ivan Meyer
The MEC furthermore points out that carcasses need to be disposed of responsibly. Local municipalities have been provided with burial sites and disinfectants.
The senior communications officer for the Garden Route District Municipality, Marillia Veldkornet, confirms that a burial site has been identified and that the transportation of carcasses is prevented to prevent the further spread of ASF infections.
Carcasses being buried are covered with decomposing chemicals (lime), followed by a layer of soil.
“The department of agriculture together with the George Municipality are providing the lime to use for this purpose. [Environmental health professionals] furthermore assist with regular site inspections to ensure effective disposal of the carcasses,” says Veldkornet.
“Police have also been activated to monitor the movement of pigs in the area. Similar pro-active engagements will also be done in other municipal areas to ensure readiness in case of any further outbreaks of ASF.”
Unresolved ASF outbreaks
In its most recent African swine fever outbreak and surveillance update report, the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development indicates that South Africa currently has three active outbreaks.
The first started in 2019 and is affecting the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West with a total of 84 reported outbreaks (30 open and 54 resolved). The second outbreak event started in 2020 and is located in the Eastern Cape with 15 reported outbreaks (all open). The third outbreak event started in 2021 and is located in the Western Cape with 43 outbreaks (33 open and 10 resolved).
The Western Cape’s first outbreak was reported in February 2021. The initial area of infection consisted of smallholding farms in Mfuleni, north of Khayelitsha, but the disease has since spread to various areas in the City of Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Drakenstein, the Breede Valley, Langeberg and Theewaterskloof.
In December 2021 Saldanha Bay reported its first outbreaks and in January 2022 outbreaks were reported in Mossel Bay and George. Mainly small-scale farmers and informal pig farmers have been affected.
Officials from the Western Cape department of agriculture’s state veterinary services and the agricultural producers’ support and development programmes are currently hosting farmer information days on the subject.
The aim is to provide information and to create awareness on ASF, biosecurity and general pig farming questions.
ALSO READ: Outbreaks: Western Cape reports more ASF cases
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