Ogun State Government Urges Farmers to Combat Swine Fever

The Ogun State government has cautioned pig farmers to strictly follow biometric measures in response to the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, which has allegedly resulted in N5 billion in livestock losses across the state. Hon. Bola Owootomo, the commissioner for agriculture, stated that there is currently no approved vaccine for ASF, and treatment requires farmers to report any suspicions to federal authorities after laboratory confirmation.

This statement was made following a protest by pig farmers in the Ikangba area of Odogbolu, who claimed significant losses due to the disease. Owootomo indicated that farmers should formally report their issues to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, which would work with state authorities on potential vaccine production and sanitization methods.

He urged farmers to ensure they have conducted tests and received confirmations before seeking compensation, emphasizing the importance of adhering to strict biometric measures to control the disease's spread.