Pork and fish prices soar due to disease outbreak

The cost of pork and fish in the southern provinces is on the increase after the livestock and fisheries sector of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry put a temporary ban on the sale of beef.

The cost of pork has risen from 20,000 kip per kg to 30,000 kip while fish soared from 25,000 kip to 32,000 kip per kg, according to a report from provincial authorities.

The ban on beef was implemented as a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in Saravan and Champassak provinces which began in December last year and has killed thousands of calves while many more are still undergoing treatment.

The outbreak has spread to four districts in Saravan, killing 60 calves, while 1,643 calves have died in Champassak province.

“The reason for the outbreak is drought leaving buffaloes and cattle without enough grass to graze while animal owners are often unable to provide healthcare for their cattle,” Saravan Livestock and Fisheries section Deputy Head Ms. Khamphiene Phanthabouly told local media last week.

She said that preventing people from consuming animals that have died as a result of the disease is an important way of curbing the spread of the outbreak.

The outbreak has impacted on numerous livestock farmers, particularly in Lau-ngam, Vapy, Khongxedon and Saravan Districts.

Livestock breeding helps families increase their income and gives rural children the chance to study at a high level, said Ms. Khamphiene.

To solve the problem, the livestock and fisheries sector announced that provincial technical staff will join district agriculture offices in outbreak areas to formulate measures to control the spread of the disease, she said.

The sector is also advising farmers on the treatment of sick animals, educating locals not to eat animals that have died from disease and surveying outbreak sites.

Some livestock in the northern provinces have also been affected by the disease, but provincial authorities are seeking ways to control the outbreak by limiting cattle and buffalo transportation and sales.

The Livestock and Fisheries Department has sent technical staff to join provincial authorities in their fight with the outbreak in each area.

vientiane times

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