Don’t move pigs between provinces, says Naqia

THE National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (Naqia) is urging farmers and informal traders in the Highlands to stop moving pigs and pork products between provinces following a recent outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).
Managing director Joel Alu said Naqia was working with provincial governments and the Southern Highlands, Hela, Enga and Western Highlands administration and would establish checkpoints along roads leading to and from the declared disease areas.
These areas include Southern Highlands, Hela and Enga which were recently declared by Agriculture and Livestock Minister John Simon as “contaminated.”
The declaration prohibits moving pigs, pork and pork products into and out of diseased areas to enable Naqia to implement necessary measures to contain ASF.
Findings from Naqia revealed that the deaths of pigs occurred in Nipa, Mendi-Munihu and Central Mendi over a period of four months (Nov 2019-Feb 2020).