SHILLONG, MAY 26: Reeling from losses due to African Swine Flu and mounting debt, the Federation of Piggery Farmers of Meghalaya on Tuesday sought a full waiver of Piggery Mission loans and a dedicated state policy to promote local pork.
A delegation led by Federation Secretary Napoleon Mawphniang met Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Minister Sanbor Shullai in Shillong, accompanied by Mawkynrew MLA Banteidor Lyngdoh.
A memorandum detailing the challenges faced by pig farmers across the state was submitted during the meeting.
“We are presenting the Federation of Piggery Farmers of Meghalaya. Today with the help of MLA of Mawkynrew constituency Banteidor Lyngdoh we met minister of animal husbandry Sanbor Shullai,” Mawphniang told reporters afterwards.
He said the Federation currently has over 400 members, with more expected to join.
Many farmers had availed loans of Rs 15 to 20 lakh under the government’s Piggery Mission in 2022-2023, viewing it as an opportunity to expand operations.
“Many thought that the loan was a blessing but when African swine flu hit, many of them were victims of the loan itself,” Mawphniang said.
With herds lost to the outbreak, farmers are now under pressure from banks to repay. “Now the issue is that the pigs are gone and the banks are knocking on the door and demand from them to pay back the loan and the farmers are not knowing what to do. Many of them are still panic and many of them went to desperation,” he said.
The Federation urged the government to address the ongoing spread of African Swine Flu, which Mawphniang said “is still going on right now.”
He also flagged severe market competition from pigs brought in from Assam, Punjab and other parts of India.
“Pigs coming from outside the state are competing with local pigs which local farmers take 1 and half years to rear them, whereas pigs coming from outside take only 5-6 months to rear. We are not able to compete with pigs coming from outside the state,” he said.
Mawphniang pointed to the lack of price differentiation in the pork market as another hurdle for local producers. “When it comes to chicken, we have broiler and croiler, but when it comes to pigs, we have only one price tag, so this is a problem for local farmers,” he said.
To help the sector recover, the Federation has asked the state government for a 100 percent waiver of Piggery Mission loans extended to farmers.
It also proposed a ‘Buy Meghalaya Pork’ policy to encourage consumers to purchase locally reared meat and help farmers “thrive in the market.” Additionally, it requested a non-refundable relief grant of Rs 10 lakh per farmer to revive operations and stabilize the local pork industry.
Mawphniang said the minister gave an assurance that “he will take up the matter and he will call for a meeting by next month” to discuss the farmers’ concerns.
