Abkhazia Culls Pigs to Fight Swine Fever

Authorities in breakaway Abkhazia said on August 28 they would cull the local pig population to contain the spread of a devastating pig disease, African Swine Fever (ASF).

Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh said the cull was the only way to tackle the disease and promised to compensate farmers, according to Bagapsh?s press service.

Abkhaz authorities said Russia had restricted the import of agricultural products from Abkhazia because of the spread of ASF.

?If we fail to carry out decisive measures against the disease, the border [with Russia] may be totally closed off to our agricultural products,? Bagapsh said. ?And this will be a major blow for our farmers.?

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