U’hage pig farmers angry at forced culling
EASTERN CAPE - Eastern Cape government officials have slammed Uitenhage emerging farmers who have threatened to slaughter and eat their pigs to prevent them being culled.The criticism came from top-ranking officials of the Controlled Disease Joint Operations Field Services, Culling and Disposal team from Bhisho. The team is visiting parts of the Eastern Cape to educate farmers about the classical swine fever or hog cholera infecting hundreds of pigs in the Eastern Cape.
Since August last year, more than160 000 pigs have been culled and about R68-million has been spent in reimbursement of farmers for their pigs. The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, its councillors and some Uitenhage and Despatch farmers have also disassociated themselves from those defiant farmers.
Addressing more than 45 farmers at the Jeff Masemola Community Hall in KwaNobuhle, Women in Agriculture and Development chairman Nowongile Molo said there was still money from the government to compensate farmers and the payment was market-related.
Source: The Herald
17 March 2006
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