Countering the virus
The regional administration has set itself the goal of containing 13.400 wild boars between now and next year in order to prevent the advent of the African swine fever in Veneto. “The closest outbreak is less than 90 km from the regional borders - emphasizes Cia-Agricoltori Italiani Veneto-. All measures that go in the direction of combating the virus must be openly supported. But the costs of interventions related to the strengthening of biosecurity must not be downloaded only on farmers”. As for ungulates, in the area of the Colli Euganei Park, as well as in Lessinia and Belluno, the teams of authorized sleet controllers will be reinforced, while new manhole covers will be positioned. Not only that. Ordinance 84 of the Regional Council, called “Measures for the prevention and control of the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the regional territory”, imposes further restrictions “both to avoid contagion and to manage any outbreaks in Veneto”.
The prescriptions indicated
However, observes the president of Cia Veneto, Gianmichele Passarini, “the concrete support of the institutions is needed, also in financial terms, to fully implement the indicated prescriptions”. By next October 10, for example, breeders who have not yet done so will be required to strengthen the fences, use adequate individual protections and disposable clothing. “It is true that agricultural entrepreneurs have been improving biosecurity in their activities for two years now; but it is not possible to give such a short time frame, only four weeks, to definitively comply: adequate investments are needed that sometimes require months”.
The role of the entire community
Farms that have not implemented these improvements will be excluded from any compensation: “This is also an aspect that does not convince us. Generally speaking, the issue of PSA should not be resolved solely by the world of agriculture. Instead, maximum collaboration with all the competent authorities is necessary. This is a critical issue that must be addressed by the entire community. We do not avoid controls, on the contrary - the president points out -. The primary sector, however, cannot be left alone in the fight against the virus”. If PSA were to actually reach the regional territory, Cia Veneto estimates losses of at least 10% of the overall turnover of the pig sector, approximately 10 million euros in twelve months. “The entire Prosciutto Veneto Dop supply chain would be in serious crisis - Passarini clarifies - with more than negative impacts on the economic and social fabric. Wild boars are the primary vectors of African swine fever and, therefore, represent an enormous danger”. Hence, he concludes, "the urgency of containing the number of ungulates, especially in the four pig-breeding districts, Verona South, Verona North, Sossano-Teolo, Padua-Vicenza-Treviso-Venice, identified by the Region" (source: CIA).
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