Ekiti State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, has alerted pig farmers to the risks posed by African swine fever, a highly contagious viral disease that could lead to significant pig mortality rates and harm pig farming businesses. In a public advisory, Boluwade emphasized the need for swift preventive actions, urging farmers to implement robust biosecurity protocols and sanitation measures on their farms.
Boluwade outlined essential precautions, including enhancing biosecurity on farms, boosting pig nutrition to strengthen immunity, and limiting inter-farm visits. He further advised slaughtering and processing mature pigs to reduce risks, implementing strict access controls, and conducting awareness training for farm staff.
Additional recommendations include restricting both human and vehicle movements in and out of farms, building secure perimeter fences, and avoiding the reuse of feed bags to prevent potential contamination. Boluwade underscored the importance of these measures to support the food security initiatives of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration, which seeks to combat hunger and promote agricultural resilience across Ekiti State.
