By CHILA NAMAIKO-
GOVERNMENT will soon compensate farmers whose pigs were slaughtered as a result to the African swine fever outbreak, Southern Province Veterinary Officer, Charles Maseka has said.
The veterinary office in Choma recently slaughtered about 1,000 pigs belonging to more than 100 local farmers following the outbreak of African swine fever early this year in some parts of the country.
Dr Maseka said in an interview that the funds to compensate affected farmers in Choma were now available and that Government was in the process of paying them.
He said about K300,000 had been side aside for the exercise.
“The cheques for compensating affected farmers are now ready, I received a confirmation from directors in Lusaka at the ministry and will soon be handed over to them,” he said.
Dr Maseka, however, could not disclose how much the individual farmers would get in terms of compensation.
He said compensation process had delayed because the department had to follow procedures such as entering names of affected farmers into the data base.
Dr Maseka said African swine fever was under control, but that the ban on transportation of pork products from high risk zones was in effect.
He said, despite the disease being under control, the department would continue putting various mechanisms to ensure the pork industry was safeguarded.
