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."

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Editor PigProgress