ASSESSING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER CONTROL ALONG THE PIG VALUE CHAIN
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Date
2025
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Gulu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Pig production recommended as key for poverty alleviation strategies in Uganda’s 2040 Vision,
contributes to livelihood income and employment for many people. The potential of pig value
chain to support the livelihood of people are impacted economically by factors related with
African swine fever (ASF). The endemic ASF has no effective vaccine and medicine,
prevention and control rely on biosecurity measures, and restrictions of trade and pig
movements. The overall goal of this study was to advance knowledge of perceived existing
ASF biosecurity measures and associated implementation cost in the pig value chain. Four
studies were conducted in six districts across northern, and central Uganda. The studies used
focus group discussions, disease outbreak investigations, and participatory group model
building of system dynamic (SD). Data analysis included semi-qualitative and quantitative
methods. This study classified the perceived biosecurity implementation in smallholder into
enablers – positive perception and knowledge; and hindrances – investment and feeding costs.
Anthropogenic activities introduced ASFV contaminated commercial feeds into and facilitated
spread within and across pig houses of a large-scale modern farm. During quarantine
imposition, value chain actors shifted trade activities from formal to informal markets, and the
perceived economic loss was higher among farmers. Farmers forgone pig sales worth
$160,000, which is $14,000 lower than what traders would sell as pork during trade ban. In SD
simulation scenarios when consumer demand remains unchanged, adult pig numbers rose as
sales were restricted, hence pig and pork inventory reduce, causing an increase in prices as less
is available on the market. On the other hand, when consumer demand falls, pig inventories
rise and this causes a decline in the pig price. Combining a trade ban with enhanced biosecurity
cost when consumer demand falls resulted in a further increase in adult pigs and pig inventories
due to reduced pig death rates. As trade bans induce an increased herd size on farm, this leads
to a fall in farmer and trader profit margins. In conclusion, the exiting biosecurity measures
have failed to prevent and control ASF as hinderances outweigh enablers of biosecurity
implementations. Contaminated commercial feeds was a potential source for ASFV
introduction into large scale farmer. Reducing the pig mortality rates through enhanced
biosecurity can improve outcomes from ASF outbreaks during trade ban, but there is a tradeoff
with greater incurred costs.