By JUNEP OCAMPO
Mario Ledesma (not his real name) is a businessman from Pampanga. Before the pandemic, he managed a farm with wild boars roaming freely on his 10-hectare property, feeding primarily on vegetables and fruits. Although not officially certified as organic, his pigs fetched premium prices due to the superior taste of their meat compared to commercial breeds.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced Ledesma to scale down production. To his dismay, the African Swine Fever (ASF) subsequently decimated his entire herd.
Recently, Ledesma watched a news report showcasing the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NatFed) setting a new world record for serving the highest number of pork dishes at an event. The sight reignited his longing for the unique taste of wild boar meat. Yet, Ledesma expressed his inability to take risks while the ASF threat persists.
“It's frightening to restart farming. They could fall ill and die at any moment,” he lamented. “The pigs could easily be wiped out again. It's a waste of money.”
Plight of small-scale growers
Ledesma's ordeal mirrors that of small-scale hog growers in the country whose backyard farms have been devastated by ASF.
According to Rolando Tambago, president of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, private sector estimates indicate that ASF has claimed the lives of four million hogs since its detection in the country in July 2019. With an average of four pigs per backyard farm, this translates to a million Filipino hog farmers losing their livelihoods.
As of March 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the United Nations has reported ASF cases in 73 out of 82 provinces. As of March 8, 2024, there are still 127 barangays in 24 municipalities across 11 provinces with active ASF cases.
Though these figures are far from ideal, the FAO considers them an improvement from the previous year.
As an example, the FAO highlighted the Bicol region, where 52 out of 72 towns previously affected by ASF have been reclassified as "buffer zones" – areas with no active ASF cases but adjacent to those with active infections.
Biosecurity is key
Experts worldwide advocate for biosecurity as a crucial measure in preventing the spread of diseases among pigs.
Similar to the protocols enforced during the Covid-19 pandemic, biosecurity measures include perimeter fencing, restricted access to farms, installation of foot baths, biosecurity training for farm workers, visual examination, and basic diagnosis of pig health. Since small-scale farms lack veterinarians, farm workers are tasked with monitoring potential infections and promptly isolating sick pigs.
The FAO emphasizes that ASF is not airborne but transmitted through direct contact with infected pigs, feces, or body fluids. It can also spread through equipment, vehicles, or people working with pigs between farms with inadequate biosecurity. Additionally, the virus can be carried by ticks.
"Biosecurity is non-negotiable in combating the spread of ASF," stated the FAO.
Sentinel pigs
The Department of Agriculture has promoted the deployment of "Sentinel pigs" to farms as a preemptive measure before repopulation.
Similar to security guards, Sentinel pigs serve as the first line of defense for farms. Deployed to areas without active ASF cases for at least 90 days, these pigs are regularly monitored for signs of infection. Local veterinarians collaborate with farm owners to raise and monitor Sentinel pigs while evaluating the farm's biosecurity measures.
Forty days after deployment, Sentinel pigs undergo blood testing to confirm their health status. Only when they are cleared will the farm be declared ASF-free and repopulation would commence.
Financial support
While essential, these biosecurity measures pose financial burdens on hog raisers.
"It's costly to run a farm with uncertain profits. Investing in biosecurity adds to the expenses," noted businessman Ledesma from Pampanga.
To address this concern, the Landbank of the Philippines offers loans for hog growers, allocating P8 billion for this purpose. However, these loans are available to cooperatives, farmer's associations, and small-to-medium businesses, not individual farmers. Borrowers may receive up to 80 percent of the project cost with repayment periods ranging from one to five years.
Some borrowers have used Landbank loans to construct biosecurity-equipped buildings, support facilities, manure lagoons, waste water treatment facilities, and to purchase young female hogs for breeding.
Awaiting vaccines
Despite these efforts, however, farmers like Ledesma remain skeptical. He prefers to wait for a vaccine before reinvesting.
"The government says there will be a vaccine by the end of the year. I'll wait," said Ledesma.
The Department of Agriculture has announced that two companies – one Vietnamese and one American – are seeking regulatory approval for their vaccines from the Food and Drug Administration. Two other firms from Vietnam and Thailand have expressed intentions to apply for authorization.
Once vaccines have been proven effective, Ledesma says it is better time for the Philippine to set another record for more pork dishes.
“We Filipinos love pork. I, for one, miss eating lechon baboy damo. But I think that with the threat of ASF still here, we have to be extra careful,” he said.