Task force to revive pig farming

Thursday, 5 June 2025 04:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

In response to mitigate adverse impacts of African swine fever, the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved appointing a task force to take necessary steps for the revival of the pig industry.

The task force will be Co-Chaired by the Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Ministry Secretary and the Senior Additional Secretary to the President (Development Administration), along with representatives of other relevant stakeholders.

The African swine fever, a highly pathogenic epidemic disease reported in October 2024, first started in the Western Province Sri Lanka and has now spread to all the provinces.

Authorities have warned that there is a possibility of increasing the mortality rate up to 100% in a farm infected with this disease.

According to the data reported so far, the disease has been reported from 1,594 pig farms and 61,695 pigs have died.

Further, the Department of Wildlife Conservation has reported that the disease has infected wild boars in the forest, and a large number of wild boars have also died. The risk of resumption of pig farms has become very risky due to the lack of scientific information about the spread of the disease and the circulation of the pathogen virus in the environment.

The proposal presented to this effect by Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lalkantha was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.