Nagaland bans import of pork amid Assam restricting passage of pigs from various parts of India

Dimapur: Dimapur is facing acute shortage of pork as butcher’s shops selling the state’s most consumed meat remained closed on Monday over Assam government’s decision to restrict the passage of live pigs from various parts of the country into Nagaland.

The Pork Butchers’ Union Dimapur (PBUD) had announced the closure of its shops in Dimapur, starting from April 24 till further notice, and also banned the import of pigs from Assam until the neighbouring state lifts the ban imposed on the transportation of live pigs through it, which came into effect on March 13.

PBUD president Shikato T Swu told Eastern Mirror on Monday that the restriction on transportation of farm pigs from various Indian cities and states like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Odisha, Delhi, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh into Nagaland is an inter-state issue that needs to be resolved by the respective governments.

He added that the ban on import of pigs from Assam is likely to continue till a resolution is reached and urged the government to promptly address the issue as it is not only affecting the butchers of Nagaland but also the general public.

Swu said Assam government’s move to stop the transportation of healthy pigs through the state was taking a toll on the butcher community in Nagaland despite free passage of “local Assam pigs”.

Pigs from Assam are pricey, currently priced around INR 230 to 240 per kg, and it may continue to rise due to supply shortage, while the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) had fixed INR 200 per kg at wholesale and INR 280 per kg at retail, he informed, adding that butchers cannot run their business and earn their daily wages under this scenario.

He said that it is unfair to ban the transportation of farm pigs from other states while allowing ‘local Assam pigs’ to be sold in the market.

He is of the opinion that healthy farm pigs from various parts of the country as well as ‘local Assam pigs’ should be allowed free passage and that consumers should be given the freedom to choose the meat they prefer.

The PBUD president also informed that they confiscated pork from a butcher who was found selling it in Dimapur on Monday despite the ban and that the seized meat was given away to an orphanage home in the city.

He said the PBUD would not allow the transportation of pigs from Assam to Nagaland and also to Manipur through the state. He added that its members would remain vigilant at all the five check gates in the state from April 24 night for effective implementation of the ban.

He went on to say that the PBUD, which covers both Dimapur and Chümoukedima districts, is planning to submit a memorandum to the Chief Veterinary Officer of Dimapur regarding the issue.