The Ekiti State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project recently held a sensitization forum with pig farmers to educate them on preventing the spread of African swine fever (ASF).
At the meeting in Ado-Ekiti, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Ebenezer Boluwade, represented by Dr. Emmanuel Osayomi, urged farmers to stay vigilant and adopt preventive measures to protect their farms from this highly contagious viral disease. He clarified that ASF does not affect humans but can cause significant pig mortality.
State L-PRES Project Coordinator, Mr. Olayinka Adedipe, highlighted that, while ASF poses no direct threat to human health, it can lead to substantial economic losses for pig farmers. He emphasized that, given the absence of a vaccine, prevention is crucial.
Mr. Anthony Alofe, Director of Animal Husbandry Services, advised farmers to avoid sourcing pigs from unreliable suppliers, report any suspicious cases promptly, and boost their pigs’ immunity through proper nutrition.
Dr. Oluwaseun Oluwarotimi, Animal Health Officer for L-PRES, outlined ASF symptoms, such as high fever, loss of appetite, reddish skin, diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, difficulty breathing, and sudden death.
Rev. Albert Aribisin, Chairman of the Piggery Association of Nigeria (Ekiti State Chapter), thanked the Ministry and L-PRES for their support in mapping pig farmers and forming clusters. He called for additional government assistance, including the provision of germicides and agrochemicals to help control disease outbreaks.