“Immediate compensation and rapid interventions” –

“The spread of ASF has now reached alarming levels, putting at risk not only animal health, but the entire pig supply chain in our country, a crucial sector for the national economy and for the protection of our quality productions”. This is one of the initial passages that can be read in the letter sent by the president of Coldiretti Ettore Prandini, to the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests Francesco Lollobrigida and to the Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci, to urge maximum attention on the issue of African Swine Fever (ASF). Coldiretti expresses full confidence in the work of the new Extraordinary Commissioner for ASF, Giovanni Filippini, a highly competent figure, who has already begun to implement some of the requests made by the association to contain the spread of the virus. During a recent webinar meeting with Commissioner Filippini, Coldiretti recalls, over 500 Coldiretti farmers from the areas most affected by the epidemic expressed their growing concern about the lack of decisive actions. The crisis, which has been going on for about 1,000 days, is bringing many companies to the brink of collapse, with emblematic cases such as that of a farmer forced to slaughter 12,000 heads of cattle in a single day, leaving his family in a state of total uncertainty.

In the letter, Coldiretti appeals to ministers, drawing attention to the urgency of targeted interventions. “It is essential to guarantee breeders the certainty of compensation for the damages suffered, perhaps even through emergency funds, covering not only the losses due to culling, but also the lost earnings linked to the forced company shutdown”, we read in the letter. Without adequate economic support, Coldiretti underlines, many companies risk not surviving, with serious repercussions on the entire supply chain and on the local economy. Another crucial aspect concerns the containment of wild fauna, in particular wild boars, the main vectors of the virus. Coldiretti recalls that just a few months ago it concluded a series of mobilizations in all regions of Italy to ask for containment interventions, in the face of the uncontrolled proliferation of wild boars in our country. It is necessary to implement an effective containment plan to prevent the further spread of the disease in the provinces not yet affected.

To avoid market speculation during this crisis, Coldiretti has stressed to ministers the need to implement constant monitoring of pig prices, as well as requesting measures such as the suspension of loans and contributions for affected companies. The Italian pig supply chain, which is worth approximately 20 billion euros overall and involves 100,000 jobs and 10 million animals raised, cannot afford further delays. Coldiretti urgently asks institutions to act promptly to support a sector that is vital to our country’s economy. The letter guarantees the organization’s availability for any support activity necessary to combat this emergency. Rapid and effective coordination between institutions is essential to stop the spread of ASF, adequately compensate affected farmers and ensure the survival of a production sector that represents Italian excellence.