Center leader Muharrem Demirok supports LRF’s plan to shoot wild boars in Sweden.
– In general, we need to review the wild boar population, he says.
Demirok has so far not wanted to say whether the strain should decrease, increase or be kept at the same level as today.
But now he says that the African swine fever has changed the situation.
– When swine fever has entered the equation and it risks both our food production and our self-sufficiency, then the wild boar population needs to be reviewed.
There are today upwards of 300,000 wild boars in Sweden, while Denmark has zero and Norway classifies the wild boar as an alien, unwanted species.
The Farmers’ Confederation (LRF) believes that the tribe should be radically reduced by up to 90 percent.
– When it comes to the number 90 percent, I want to be clear that it will be very difficult to put a number, says Demirok.
– Because in some parts of the country the need to review the wild boar population will be greater and in other parts it will be less.
The pig also causes damage, not least to agriculture, says the Center leader and emphasizes that he worked on the issue for many years as a municipal councilor in Linköping.
– You just have to come out to a region like Östergötland and you see what the wild boar can do.
He does not have a straight answer as to when the tribe will be reduced, but in the areas affected by swine fever, the shooting may have to happen more quickly than in other parts of the country.
– In other parts of the country, we may need to have a slightly longer time horizon, says Muharrem Demirok.