African swine fever eradication

Special PES covers the period 12/78-12/80 and is based on an attached special evaluation (XD-AAJ-235-A). The project has paved the way for a rejuvenated national pig industry. After the project"s exceptional success in depopulating the Eastern Region (ER), efforts were accelerated to rid the nation of pigs by 9/80. Healthy pigs were slaughtered, infected pigs destroyed, and owners compensated. The fair treatment given both large and small farmers, the offer of compensation at above market prices before and the threat of uncompensated confiscation after 8/80, and an effective mass media campaign defused opposition and reestablished confidence in pork. Under a sentinel pig program, 611 ASF-free pigs were sent to 126 locations in ER and monitored 90 days for signs of ASF. After the results proved positive in 1/81, the ER sentinels and an additional 250 pigs were dispensed to new sites in the central zone; 250 more sentinels are expected soon. The small ASF laboratory was staffed, equipped, and moved to a larger although still deficient renovated facility near Santo Domingo. Customs officers and trained inspectors were stationed at four airports, nine ports, and on the Haitian border to prevent the reintroduction of ASF carriers. To guide efforts to rebuild the pig population to 1.4 million, a detailed 5-year plan (which, however, seems to favor large operators) was developed. It is recommended that the GDR: (1) begin repopulating ER soon and expand the sentinel program nationwide; (2) adequately staff, include small farmers in, and possibly seek alternate funding (e.g., P.L. 480) for repopulation efforts; (3) continue looking for wild pigs; (4) upgrade laboratory facilities and provide graduate training to 1-2 laboratory scientists; (5) contact Maltese scientists experienced in ASF eradication; (6) assist Haiti in an anti-ASF campaign and maintain pig-free zones along the Haitian border (temporarily) and near airports (permanently); (7) devise emergency plans to combat an ASF outbreak; and (8) test the acclimatization and productivity of imported pigs.