Aizawl | January 16, 2026

Mizoram incurred an estimated financial loss of ₹114.64 crore in 2025 following the continued outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), which led to the death and culling of thousands of pigs across the state, a senior official of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said on Friday. The disease, which has plagued the northeastern state for nearly five years, remains one of the most severe crises to hit Mizoram’s rural economy and traditional pig-farming communities.

According to Esther Lalzoliani Ralte, Deputy Director of the state’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, ASF claimed the lives of 9,711 pigs between March and December 2025. In addition, 3,620 pigs were culled as a preventive measure to curb the further spread of the highly contagious viral disease. Altogether, 3,867 families were directly affected during the year, many of whom rely heavily on pig rearing as a primary or supplementary source of income.

“The financial loss for 2025 alone has been assessed at ₹114.64 crore,” Ralte told news agency PTI, underscoring the persistent economic toll of the disease on Mizoram’s agrarian households.

African Swine Fever, a viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs, has no known cure or vaccine. While it does not affect humans, it is almost always fatal to pigs and spreads rapidly through direct contact, contaminated feed, and improper disposal of carcasses. For states like Mizoram, where pig farming is deeply woven into social, cultural and economic life, ASF has had devastating consequences.

A Crisis That Began in 2021

Mizoram first reported African Swine Fever on March 21, 2021, in Lungsen village of Lunglei district, close to the Bangladesh border. What initially appeared as a localised outbreak soon spread to multiple districts, overwhelming veterinary infrastructure and forcing authorities to take drastic containment measures, including mass culling.

Since the first detection of ASF in the state, a total of 72,012 pigs have died due to the disease, Ralte said. An additional 52,979 pigs were culled to prevent transmission, bringing the total number of pigs lost since 2021 to well over 1.25 lakh. Over this period, more than 12,500 families have been affected statewide.

The cumulative financial loss caused by ASF in Mizoram since 2021 has been estimated at a staggering ₹1,011.27 crore, highlighting the scale of the crisis and its long-term impact on the rural economy.

Year-wise Impact and Rising Losses

While 2025 saw significant losses, it was not the worst year in terms of economic damage. According to official data shared by the department, Mizoram suffered its highest financial loss due to ASF in 2024, when pig farmers collectively lost an estimated ₹336.4 crore. This was followed closely by losses of ₹334.14 crore in 2021 and ₹210.32 crore in 2022.

In terms of pig fatalities, however, 2021 remains the deadliest year since the outbreak began. During that year alone, 33,417 pigs died due to ASF. This was followed by 14,950 pig deaths in 2024 and 12,795 deaths in 2022. The pattern reflects both the aggressive spread of the disease in its early phase and the recurring nature of outbreaks despite containment efforts.

Ralte noted that the last reported pig deaths due to ASF in Mizoram occurred on December 8, 2025, suggesting a temporary lull. However, she cautioned that the disease has shown a tendency to resurface seasonally.

“The outbreak usually shows some respite during the winter months, but there is a resurgence during warmer weather,” she said, indicating that authorities remain on alert in the months ahead.

Compensation Challenges and Limited Relief

One of the most pressing concerns for affected farmers has been compensation. While the government provides financial aid for pigs that are officially culled as part of disease control measures, there is no compensation for pigs that die due to ASF infection itself.

Ralte said that a total of ₹14.51 crore, received jointly from the Centre and the state government, has so far been disbursed to compensate pig farmers for animals culled up to 2023. However, compensation for pigs culled in 2024 is still pending.

“A proposal seeking ₹24.94 crore as compensation for pigs culled in 2024 has been submitted to the Centre,” she said. The amount, once approved, will be shared equally by the Centre and the Mizoram government under a 50:50 funding arrangement.

The absence of financial aid for pigs that die from ASF has left many farmers struggling to recover their losses. In Mizoram, pig rearing is not merely a commercial activity but a key component of food security, customary practices, and household income, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

Repeated Animal Health Crises

ASF is not the first major animal disease outbreak to hit Mizoram. The state has also faced repeated outbreaks of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020. These outbreaks killed thousands of pigs and piglets, causing an estimated loss of ₹10.62 crore.

Veterinary experts say the recurring nature of such diseases highlights the vulnerability of pig farming in the region, exacerbated by porous international borders, informal animal trade, limited biosecurity measures, and the high density of backyard piggery units.

The Road Ahead

Despite ongoing surveillance, awareness campaigns, and culling protocols, African Swine Fever continues to pose a serious threat to Mizoram’s livestock sector. Officials say sustained funding, improved biosecurity, scientific waste disposal, and regional coordination—especially with neighbouring states and countries—are critical to preventing future outbreaks.

For thousands of families across Mizoram, the hope is that stronger disease management and faster compensation mechanisms will help rebuild livelihoods that have been repeatedly shattered over the past five years. Until then, African Swine Fever remains a stark reminder of how animal health crises can ripple through economies and communities, leaving long-lasting scars.