Home
News
last update:Oct 25, 2006
South African CSF outbreak costs millions
The classical swine fever (CSF) outbreak that has been
around in South Africa's Eastern Cape for over a year has already cost the
country €41.7 million.
The agriculture department has extended the quarantine
for another six months and continues to cull pigs that test positive for
CSF
.
However, most of the farmers affected are still waiting for
compensation.
Reports
The SA Pork Producers' Organisation (Sappo) said reports from the
department showed that as of last week 80,730 producers' pigs had been culled
and the total compensation cost was about €20.5 million.
In March this year compensation rates were set for the pigs.
"At present only 27,644 people, the majority of them subsistence farmers,
have received payouts from the department," a Sappo spokesman said. "That means
only 36% of the money owed has been paid to the people, many of whom have been
waiting for over a year to receive their funds."
Economy
The disease was adversely impacting the province's economy since many shops
had started importing pork from other elsewhere.
"This has a double impact - we lose jobs and money is being directed out of
the province."
Related website:
Editor PigProgress
To comment, login here
Or register to be able to comment.