Everything's quiet
“The extraordinary commissioner resigned in recent days: I wrote to the Government to ask for a new appointment, given that we are in an emergency and it is necessary not to waste time. Furthermore, we have been asking for at least two years the sharing of a clear and homogeneous national strategy for all regions. To date nothing has happened." Thus the regional councilor for Agriculture Alessio Mammi, regarding the intensification of problems due to African swine fever (ASF), and the objective of reducing the presence of wild boars in the area.
Pork supply chain at risk
“We cannot compromise the pig production chain due to its value and all the jobs it represents - continues Mammi, who recalled the requests made to the Government for effective action to contain the virus -. In 2022 the Region advanced 2 million euros to the national commissioner structure, resources that they have only started to use in recent days after almost two years of unheard requests for them to be committed to containment and eradication. Given what happened on a farm in the Piacenza area, it is necessary to proceed with the declaration of a state of calamity in order to be able to take extraordinary measures, the appointment of regional sub-commissioners with intervention powers, in derogation of procurement legislation, the safeguarding of exports which represent the most important commercial market in recent years, in particular for PDO and PGI productions".
Support for farmers
“For our part - he added -, we confirm our commitment to defending production: the Provinces have 3 million euros available to proceed with the depopulation of wild animals”. Among the actions launched: the wild boar control plan and self-defense support for farmers. Specific resources have been assigned to the provincial police for the management of control plans, 500 thousand euros in 2023, 1,2 million for 2024, in addition to the 5 million that the Region makes available each year for wildlife activities to the Provinces. The Region then established territorial operational groups (GOT) in the affected territories. Among the activities of the Region, the three tenders issued in 2 years with resources of 10 million euros, aimed at raising biosafety levels on farms, and the release of a fourth tender is expected after the summer. Among the financed works, fences, vehicle disinfection stands, filter areas, cold rooms. The estimated share of PDO and PGI products based on pork from Emilia-Romagna is approximately 3,4 billion euros, of which 3,2 billion for Parma ham and Bologna mortadella alone, in addition to processed meats (source: Emilia Romagna region).
You May Also Like ..
