Swazi Observer

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LOCAL PORK PROCESSED PRODUCTS AFFECTED

By Mhlengi Magongo | 2019-06-16

Following an outbreak of African swine fever, pork producers in the country have taken a heavy hit on pork processed products.

In an interview with this publication, Vivian Dlamini, a Managerat Swaziland Meat Wholesalers, mentioned that the recently announced swine fever outbreak has affected the production of pork products, such as ham, gammon, bacon and sausage.

The manager said only the processed products are affected but not the actual meat itself. He mentioned that there processed products generate more sales in the pork industry as they indicated high sales compared to other meat products.

Dlamini further mentioned that the sales of the meat processed products showed high levels before the outbreak then they heavily declined. He said the only product which was not affected much is the actual pork meat itself.

“Following the outbreak, pork production was affected in Eswatini, especially pork processed meat products and these products are the ones which are consumed the most by the public and they generate more sales locally. However, the actual pork meat was not affected by the outbreak therefore, the sales were not that much affected,” he said.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) describes African swine fever as a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, which can cause serious production and economic losses. There is currently no known approved vaccine for African swine fever

The advisory said the outbreak in other markets resulted in up to a third of the pig population being culled, creating a global shortage of pork and the import parity of pork into South Africa.

Confirmed

"Since the China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs confirmed its first African swine fever outbreak in August last year, 136 ASF outbreaks have been identified, resulting in 1 129 000 pigs being culled in an attempt to halt further spread of the disease, according to the Animal Production and Health division of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations," the advisory said.

In May, the South Africa Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced that an outbreak of African swine fever had hit a fourth province. It has now been found in Gauteng, the North West, Mpumalanga. as well as the Free State.

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