The prolonged unrest in Manipur continues to cast a somber cloud over its residents, deeply affecting their mental and emotional well-being, while simultaneously undermining the very foundations of the region’s economic sectors. As the state finds itself ensnared in this conflict for close to half a year now, the situation is further complicated by the unwelcome advent of African Swine Fever. This virulent disease has not only decimated swine populations but has also quashed the dreams and jeopardized the livelihoods of countless pig farmers who once thrived in the area. In an effort to shed light on the devastating impact of swine fever and its ripple effects on the farming community, Imphal Times sought out the insights of Pipi Keithellakpam. As an award-winning pig farmer and the proprietor of a vast farm called Keithellakpam Piggery Farm in Luker, within the Imphal West district, Keithellakpam’s perspectives offer a poignant window into the heart of the crisis.
Pipi Keithellakpam, with palpable emotion, shed light on the far-reaching consequences of the outbreak. It wasn’t just the established farmers who bore the brunt of this crisis; the aspirations of many young students were crushed too. These students had hoped to finance their education through the proceeds they garnered from selling pigs.
She recollected her experiences, saying, “During my travels, I conduct workshops and awareness programs on pig rearing across various locales. These sessions often see enthusiastic participation from the youth, who express hopes of raising a pig or two. Their intention? To use the profits from the sale of these animals to support their academic pursuits. This money was their means to cover semester fees, admission charges, and other educational expenses. But the calamity that the African Swine Fever brought this year has been unprecedented. It virtually wiped out the swine population, causing financial hardships for numerous farmers, both young and old.”
Pipi emphasized the precarious position of these students, most of whom had only recently graduated high school, the 10+2 level, and harbored ambitions of pursuing higher education. These youngsters, filled with a spirit of self-reliance, did not wish to burden their parents for funding their further studies. While larger-scale pig farmers might have the means to recover from such a setback, albeit slowly, these fledgling farmers face a dire situation.
“Many of these young aspirants hail from economically challenged backgrounds. The unfortunate loss of their pigs to this devastating swine flu has left them in a state of despair,” she voiced. “Their simple dreams of affording school or college uniforms and meeting semester examination fees now seem distant and unattainable due to the repercussions of the outbreak.”
Drawing a contrast between her situation and theirs, she continued, “While I have the option to venture out of the state to procure pigs and restart my business, these youngsters don’t have that luxury. My heart aches more for the loss they have endured than my own. My venture into this business was never about the luxurious aspirations of acquiring a new home or driving a fancy car. It was, and remains, about community upliftment, about helping those less fortunate and collectively prospering. Now, with this tragedy, there are moments when guilt weighs on me, wondering if I inadvertently led them astray by advocating for this business.” Pipi’s voice trembled with the distressing thought that the young pig farmers may succumb to despondency given the scale of the outbreak’s devastation in the state.
Pipi’s concern extended beyond the aspiring student farmers to her very own employees, many of whom had taken her teachings to heart and embarked on their pig-rearing journeys. “When these individuals were under my employment, I often supported them by advancing their salaries, enabling them to cover their educational fees,” she reminisced. “But now that they’ve branched out on their own, who will they turn to in times of financial strain?” A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she added, “Their drive and determination to achieve self-sufficiency were commendable. However, the prevailing circumstances have cruelly dashed their hopes.”
She then highlighted the staggering magnitude of the crisis. “Currently, in Manipur, we’re witnessing a grim scenario where over 90% of the pig population has been wiped out. The financial ramifications of this are enormous, amounting to losses in crores,” Pipi stated. She didn’t stop at just shedding light on the existing problem; she delved into proactive solutions to ensure such outbreaks don’t recur. She firmly believed that the responsibility didn’t just lie with the farmers or the government but extended to consumers as well.
Cautioning the public, she detailed the critical signs to watch out for to potentially curb the spread of diseases like ASF. “One must be vigilant when frequenting meat shops. If pork is being sold at suspiciously low prices, or if the meat emits an off-putting odor that deviates from its natural scent, it’s a potential red flag,” she warned. “Such indicators could very well signal the onset of African Swine Fever in the area.” Through this, Pipi underscored the role of community vigilance and collective responsibility in mitigating such crises.
Pipi delved deeper into the nuances of how African Swine Fever (ASF) is propagated, emphasizing that the disease doesn’t spontaneously move between pigs on different farms. “One must resist the temptation to buy such suspiciously priced and odorous pork. It’s crucial to understand that ASF is majorly transmitted by human activities. Contrary to what some may think, pigs themselves don’t venture from one farm to another spreading the disease,” she clarified.
She elaborated on the various transmission pathways of the disease, highlighting the risk associated with some traditional practices. “The virus can be spread through contaminated feed or even certain food products. In our region, feeding pigs with kitchen waste is a common practice. However, this waste can act as a vector for the disease, especially when individuals move from house to house, collecting and distributing it,” she pointed out.
Further emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Pipi said, “The contagion isn’t limited to direct animal-to-animal contact. The virus is insidious, lurking in contaminated feed, water sources, and even on seemingly benign objects. It can cling to tools, farming equipment, vehicles, and even the soles of our shoes, enabling it to infiltrate farms and decimate pig populations.” Through these insights, she intended to bolster public awareness, hoping that an informed community could play a vital role in preventing future outbreaks.
Pipi pinpoints one of the primary reasons for the rapid spread of the disease to an all-too-human behavior: the concealment of the truth by farmers out of economic desperation. She lamented, “It is deeply concerning when farmers, aware of a rising death toll among their pigs which could be due to African Swine Fever, choose to remain silent about it. Their intent may be to sell the affected pigs to salvage some earnings, but this short-term gain results in a colossal loss for the community.” She emphasized, “If they suspect ASF as the cause, it becomes their responsibility to report it to the relevant departments. This is not just about the financial repercussions, which run into crores, but also about the larger community of pig farmers who suffer.” She also warned consumers about the risks of unknowingly propagating the disease. “When people purchase potentially infected pork, they risk inadvertently transporting the virus to new locations. Through fomites or objects and materials that carry infection, they might inadvertently put other pig populations in harm’s way.”
In mid-October, the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department of Manipur officially acknowledged an outbreak of African Swine Fever. They pinpointed the pig farm at the Central Agriculture University in the Imphal West District as ground zero – the “epicenter” of this rampant disease. But according to Pipi’s observations and intel, this menace might have been silently wreaking havoc much earlier. She postulated, “The disease’s tendrils might have started spreading as early as May. The delay in addressing the outbreak can be attributed to certain pig farmers who, to protect their immediate economic interests, chose not to disclose the ongoing deaths among their livestock.” This entire saga underscores the importance of timely reporting, community responsibility, and the dire consequences of prioritizing short-term gains over the broader welfare of society.