Updated 23:13 | Published 23:09
All domestic pigs in the swine fever-infected area must be euthanized.
Above all, it is a farm that is affected, where life’s work is now taken away from them.
– Getting this notification is very difficult, says Tomas Olsson, LRF.
The Swedish Agricultural Agency has decided that all domestic pigs in the infected area must be killed. It is about 50 pigs.
This is to reduce the spread of African swine fever.
Tomas Olsson is regional chairman of the Farmers’ Confederation (LRF) in Mälardalen. He lives five miles outside the infected zone.
– It is primarily a farm that is affected by this decision. They have a gene bank where they have a breed of pig that is endangered. They work in the hospitality industry, restaurant and farm shop… it is their entire life’s work that is affected, says Tomas Olsson.
– There have been many and difficult conversations. They stand behind the decision, it’s not that, but getting the message is very difficult for them. You live on your farm, that’s what you do. What to do now? That’s a lot of thought.
Have major consequences
It is a unique situation, he believes, which does not only affect the pig farmers, even if it is their animals that are now to be euthanized.
The cordoned off area in Västmanland, where you are now not allowed to stay, affects the whole community.
– It affects many people who work in the hospitality industry, fishing, game, the activities of farmers, forestry that cannot cut down, tourism operations, restaurants… This has greater consequences than one might first think, says Tomas Olsson.
He does not dare to comment on how the African swine fever will affect him in the long term. But he is sure that the consequences will be long-term.
– We think it is good that you act, we have to eradicate this. But we do not know how it will affect in the long term, the area can be expanded as well, it will have long-term consequences.
No information about compensation
At today’s press conference, Rural Affairs Minister Peter Kullgren (KD) said that the Swedish Agency for Agriculture is reviewing financial compensation for the affected farmers, according to current regulations.
But no definitive announcements have yet been made public.
Tomas Olsson believes that a message from politics must come quickly.
– There is legislation and it needs to be. Now quick notice is needed that there will be compensation, people’s life’s work is only being taken away due to authority decisions which are necessary after all. Man that compensation will come, we need to know, how can they announce later, he says.
He says that during the day he has expressed his views to Peter Kullgren (KD), who was visiting Fagersta.
– He couldn’t promise anything today, but there is an understanding in any case, says Tomas Olsson.
FACT African swine fever
African swine fever has been present in Europe since 2007 and in the EU since 2014.
The general public and hunters throughout Sweden, but above all in Västmanland, are now invited to report finds of dead wild boar to SVA.
Pig keepers are asked to review their biosecurity and contact a veterinarian at signs of illness or increased mortality.
(Source: State Veterinary Medical Institute)
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