Farmers in Assam fear threat to existence of local pigs in the state in the wake of spread of African swine fever (ASF) which has currently affected pigs in 10 districts.

According to the livestock census 2019, Assam has a pig population of 21 lakh. Out of these, around eight lakh are cross-bred and the rest are of local breed.

Doom, an indigenous breed, has a population of around 4,000 in the state. Their population is largely concentrated in Dhubri district though some of them can be found in Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar districts.

Farmers of Dhemaji district, that has seen the highest fallout of ASF, told this correspondent around one lakh pigs had died till now in the district. However, data available with the veterinary department shows death of around 7,000 pigs in the district.

Officials said around 5,000 of 15,000 pigs that had died across Assam were of local breed.

“The effect of ASF on local pigs cannot be negated. Majority of families in the rural areas rear local pigs. The commercial farms rear the exotic breeds due to their productivity,” an official said.

Veterinarians, however, have heaved a sigh of relief as ASF has not spread to lower Assam districts. They have asked farmers to maintain strict biosecurity protocols as Dooms graze in groups in the wild. The veterinary department earlier moved the Centre for permission of a “nucleus farm” for breeding of the Doom breed. The proposed nucleus farm is estimated to cost around Rs 1 crore and was proposed to be set up in Dhubri.

Pradeep Phukan, a resident Lakhipathar in Dhemaji, said his farm witnessed almost a wipe-out of the entire pig population. His 57 breeding pigs and 200 piglets died due to the ASF. He is left with 25 now.

“A boar (male) of the breeding stock weights from 120kg to 170kg while a sow (female) will weight above 100kg,” Phukan said.

Phukan invested Rs 4.2 lakh in his farm. Now he does not know how to repay the loan.

The veterinary department will carry out more tests of pig samples and declare containment zones in the districts affected by ASF. The department will also carry out more tests to check the exact reason of deaths.

As many as another 100 samples been taken from the newly-affected areas. “There are also chances of other diseases affecting the pigs . More tests will help us to ascertain it. Moreover, there are fake reports of pig deaths,” an official said.

An unusual death of pig has been reported from Nagaon recently which farmers attribute to to ASF.