Support of 25.2 Million Won Each for African Swine Fever Purchase Farms

Support Available for Up to 1 Year and 6 Months Starting Mid-March

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government will provide an emergency stabilization fund averaging 25.2 million KRW per household to pig farms in Cheorwon and Goseong, Gangwon Province, that participated in the purchase of African Swine Fever (ASF)-affected pigs. It was determined that support is necessary because farms that had to sell pigs due to quarantine measures inevitably face income gaps until restocking (breeding) again.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 14th that it will pay emergency stabilization funds to 15 pig farms in Cheorwon and Goseong that participated in the purchase when ASF occurred in 2019, around mid-month. At the time of the 2019 purchase, support funds of up to one and a half years were provided according to the scale of pig farming.

Unlike pig farms in Paju, Gimpo, Ganghwa, and Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province that culled pigs, there was no institutional or financial basis for livelihood stabilization support for farms that participated in the purchase. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs secured a budget of 378 million KRW in consultation with related ministries to provide support funds until the purchase-participating farms restock (breed) pigs again.

There have been no additional cases of ASF in farmed pigs since October last year, but 1,207 cases (as of the 11th) have occurred in wild boars. After the wild boar birthing season in April and May, the population is expected to surge, raising concerns that ASF could be introduced into pig farm-dense areas.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs urged, "All pig farms nationwide should promptly improve disinfection and quarantine facilities, refrain from farming activities in spring, and strictly adhere to basic quarantine rules such as prohibiting the entry of farming equipment into farms, daily disinfection of sow houses, changing boots and washing hands when entering barns."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.