Mammi and Donini: “The Region’s support for the pig sector and the actions underway, but a rapid and concrete national strategy and certain resources are needed to avoid putting an entire economic sector at risk” Meetings in Parma and Piacenza in the next few days. The Region’s commitment to biosafety on farms and controls, prevention and also to avoid huge economic losses
31 January 2024 – First case of African swine fever in a dead wild boar in the Parma area. The discovery of a carcass by a hunter in the municipality of Tornolo was confirmed yesterday.
“The discovery of a positive case, albeit in an area already subject to restrictions, and not far from those found in the past in the Ligurian territory – say the regional councilors Alessio Mammi (Agriculture and Hunting) e Raffaele Donini (Health Policies) – raises concern and requires great attention due to the serious repercussions that could result from its spread to other areas of Emilia-Romagna. The virus has been in our country for two years and its spread is high, as highlighted by the outbreaks in Lombardy and the findings throughout the peninsula”.
Among the interventions to secure the livestock heritage, the Region has recently launched a second tender aimed at farm biosecuritywhich makes it available to businesses 5 million euros. A third call will be released shortly and will allow all questions received to be answered.
“We are also busy,” they continue moms e Donini– in promoting and supporting theactivities of the provincial police for the implementation of the plans depopulation of the species. In recent days, the second tranche of funding to the Provinces for the current year has been approved, in total 900 thousand eurospart of which is intended precisely for the reduction of wild boars with the aim of massively reducing their presence in the area”.
“We are aware, however, that all this is not enough to stem a phenomenon that has a national scope, and which can endanger our excellent productions – they add -. We will write again to the competent Ministers to highlight the need for one national strategywith a clear chain of command, which also includes what is necessary to derogate from ordinary regulations in the assignment of services and adequately financed”.
“We have to hurry – they close moms e Donini– using extraordinary and necessary measures because ordinary tools are no longer enough; for this reason we are fully available to collaborate with national institutions and the commissioner structure. We also ask for resources to act more incisively in reducing wild boars, following a strategy that we have developed together with the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research and the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. And with measures to support a production sector that is starting to suffer the first effects of trade restrictions, particularly with foreign countries”.
In the next few weeks, councilor Mammi will meet representatives of local institutions, the productive world and agricultural associations in Piacenza and Parma to share the strategy to combat the spread of Psa.