By: Apriyanto Hangga

The outbreak of the ASF (African Swine Fever) virus and the Hog Cholera disease that attack pigs make the people of Sumba face big problems because one of the economic resources is struck by the virus. The virus causes hundreds even thousands pigs dying suddenly and it makes the pig farming community discouraged and stressed because pigs are the source of family income and even support their children's school fees.

This disease is called African Swine Fever (ASF) because it first occurred in Kenya, East Africa in 1921, and at the end of 2019, this disease entered Indonesia and attacked pigs in North Sumatra to the island of Sumba. Transmission of ASF can be direct, contact between pigs, and indirect transmission through foods contaminated with viruses, mosquito or fly bites, and contact with objects contaminated with ASF particles. If a pig is infected with the ASF virus, the mortality rate reaches 100%.

The pig farming community in Sumba must continue to increase awareness by understanding these viruses and diseases, then they should take appropriate countermeasures. Activity to empower the community is important to be held by providing an understanding and education about various matters related to pigs, providing an understanding about various epidemics attacking pigs. The Multiplication of Stube HEMAT in Sumba provided assistance activity (31/01/2021) in two villages namely Prai Paha village and preparation village of Mbinu Dita, targeting students and church youth breeding pigs.

The resource person was Yohanes Bala, A,Md.Pet from the Animal Husbandry Service of East Sumba regency, who also hosted the question and answer session. This activity was quite interactive with several important things that were dealt about, such as Pig Farming, Diseases & Viruses of Swine, Characteristics of the Disease in Livestock, and Prevention & Treatment. Last but not least is keeping the pens clean and providing vitamins and vaccines to pigs.

The assistance for students and the pig farmer community also aims to build their optimism, that there must be a solution for every problem. ***