Letter to the Ministry of Agriculture
“The spread of ASF has now reached alarming levels, putting at risk not only animal health, but the entire pork supply chain of our country, a crucial sector for the national economy and for the protection of our quality products". This is one of the initial passages that can be read in the letter sent by Coldiretti to the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests Francesco Lollobrigida and to the Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci, to urge maximum attention on the issue of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Enough wild boars!
"A crucial aspect, as we pointed out to the Region during the mobilization of last July 4, "Basta cinghiali", concerns the containment of wild fauna, with the total removal of wild boars involving all the relevant bodies, including Parks - recall the President of Coldiretti Novara-Vco Fabio Tofi and the Director Luciano Salvadori - For this reason, specific interventions are needed in protected areas, also providing for the active involvement of land owners and managers; given the expansion of the restricted areas, furthermore, it is necessary to create the conditions so that, in compliance with the provisions on biosecurity, depopulation can continue without interruption, providing adequate structures for the collection and storage of the slaughtered animals. It is necessary, to ensure the operational continuity of companies that have also invested in adapting to biosecurity, to preserve the pig districts identified in Piedmont, with respect to which the provision that provides for the non-presence of wild boars in the areas included within a radius of 15 kilometers must be concretely implemented".
Constant monitoring
“It is urgent that the compensation due to the companies in our territories damaged by Swine Fever and which are in great difficulty today be paid immediately – continue Tofi and Salvadori – The compensation that must not only concern those companies that have suffered the slaughter, but we must take into consideration the issue of the company shutdown, which will concern all those farms that will be forced to remain closed and will not even be able to repopulate. It is essential that there is constant monitoring of the prices of pigs paid to farmers to avoid major speculation as it will be necessary to proceed with a stop of loans for the affected companies. The entire Piedmontese pig supply chain is at risk, which is among the most economically important in the agricultural entrepreneurial fabric” (source: Coldiretti).
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