Reported for the first time in 2021, African swine fever (ASF) remains an endemic virus in the national territory, with high levels of infections and economic losses that can occur among pig farmers.
However, the Minister of Agriculture, Francisco Oliverio Espaillat Bencosme, commented that the country has reported strategic advances in controlling its spread, through the strategies implemented by agricultural authorities with favorable results.
“The situation is being managed and the outbreaks that have emerged this year are few and where they have appeared they have immediately been controlled,” he said.
He revealed that in this way one of the methods developed consists of increasing the production of sows and offspring in areas free of this virus and where this production is not customary, such as the south and east.
After 30 days, they must be transported to common pig farming places, under strict surveillance, in addition to avoiding the raising of backyard pigs.
These special hatcheries would be accompanied by specific health requirements so that anyone who needs to enter is properly disinfected.
Minister Espaillat Bencosme participated in the LISTÍN DIARIO Breakfast, led by its director, Miguel Franjul.
The official was accompanied by the vice minister of agricultural production and marketing, Juan Antonio Gómez Williams; the administrative and financial vice minister, Herminia Reyes Abreu; the vice minister of scientific and technological affairs, Rafael Ortiz Quezada; the director of plant health and safety, Emigdio Gómez, and the chief of staff, Larissa Castillo.
Espaillat Bencosme added that similar measures are established for the transfer of pigs, considering that the identified outbreaks are native and mostly concentrated in small backyard farms, where there is usually not the necessary care to protect the animals from this disease.
He also revealed that he holds constant meetings with pig farmers from Moca and El Licey, taking into account that it is the most critical part where the plague can spread due to the concentration there is.
He reiterated that during his administration the ASF outbreaks that have appeared are few and have been controlled immediately.
“So far this year the situation has been manageable and production has remained stable with what we have,” he said.
In that sense, he added that the challenge is to increase national productivity, supporting producers, while reducing imports and increasing exports.
national production
To achieve this goal, the stimulation of new crops and those considered a country brand will go hand in hand, remembering that basic products such as rice and bananas are the “backbone” of the agricultural field, in addition to the fact that in times of rain their productivity can be taken advantage of along with the significant appreciation they receive abroad.
Added to these products are mangoes, with a sustained growth of 34,902,971 kilograms exported and the keitt and mingolo mangoes standing out among the most in demand.
A moment of pleasant conversation after concluding the Listín Breakfast.
According to the data provided by the entity on its website, the main recipient countries of this tropical fruit include the European Union (47%), the United States (25%), the United Kingdom (21%), Canada (4%) and the Minor Islands and other countries (3%), while they foresee an increase of between 7% and 10% by 2026.
Chicken is added to the list, after highlighting the “abundance” of this bird, as well as potatoes, cocoa, tobacco and aquaculture with considerable volume growth.
The Minister of Agriculture highlighted new exportable food crops, such as grapes, blueberries, asparagus and artichokes, taking advantage of the country’s strategic location.
