In an effort to spread the safety and effectiveness of vaccine for the prevention and control of classical swine fever (CSF), the ICAR-AICRP on Pig, Nagaland Centre, Department of Livestock Production and Management and School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD) held awareness programmes from December 2022 till January 2023 at SASRD campus, Medziphema.

With CSF affecting a huge pig population in Nagaland, the All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP), led by associate professor Dr. M Catherine Rutsa, informed the piggery farmers in the state to get their pigs, preferably the breeding stock, vaccinated against CSF as a preventive measure before the onset of monsoon and before an outbreak becomes uncontrollable.

A total number of 550 pigs were vaccinated against CSF in January with 231 pigs belonging to 55 farmers, 10 pigs from Sirhima village, 82 from Secü-Zubza village and 227 pigs from in and around the campus.

The ICAR–AICRP also held an off-campus ‘Piggery Self Help Group Exchange Programme’ with the flower grower community at Secü-Zubza on 12 December 2022.

Technical sessions regarding the integration of piggery and flower growers along with manure preservation, discussions on piggery diseases, pig manure benefits and their usage were also carried out along with demonstrations.

An exposure trip was also carried out to the adopted villages to enhance their outlook and improve the farm working efficiency.

The vaccines for CSF were provided by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services.