NEW permanent secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Lottie Vaisekavea has warned people of importing pigs from Papua New Guinea into the country.
He issued the warning to prevent African Swine Fever (ASF) from entering the shores of Solomon Islands.
ASF is a highly transmissible viral disease that affected and killed pigs.
The disease is transmitted through direct contact with infected pigs and indirect contact through contaminated feed and fomites (clothes, vehicles and farming equipment).
“Pig can transmit the disease; Solomon Islands must make sure no pigs come across from PNG.
“The chiefs, church leaders and families at the border are to make sure to keep our border safe by not allowing any single pig to enter Solomon Island.
“That is our contribution at the border.
“It is not our choice to stay at the border, but God put us there so we should have some responsibilities to make sure our border is safe,” he said.
He said people on the border are closely related, when they’re closely related, many interactions will happen. Some interactions are the transfer of plants and animals, these things can transfer disease to the country.
“Make sure our borders and sea ports are ready to prevent the disease,” he said.
Some years back MAL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Pacific Horticulture and Agricultural Market Access Program (PHAMA Plus). The MOU is the support MAL is having ready for the ASF.
Just last Friday, MAL launched its National African Swine Fewer Plan 2022 in a bid to scale up its preparedness efforts against any possible outbreak of the disease with the support of PHAMA Plus.
PHAMA Plus is jointly funded by Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. It provides practical and targeted assistance to SI to improve market access for key industries such as cocoa, timber, and coconut, and to strengthen biosecurity capacity to protect these industries.
“Our pig farm is small and they are vulnerable so we must protect them because the disease is already in the neighbouring country-PNG.
“What we are doing on Friday, the documents for the ASF were handed over to MAL for them to respond to the disease when it reaches SI,” the new PS said.
Mr Vaisekavea said MAL appreciates the work of the PHAMA Plus, people of SI and donors for supporting PHAMA Plus.
Mr Vaisekavea his ministry is ready to activate the action plan when the disease enters the country anytime soon.
“At the moment no ASF is in the country so we must secure the border in case it is transmitted through the borders,” he said.
The response process to ASF is called the ‘Consultative process.’
By LACHLAN EDDIE
Solomon Star, Honiara
