Cabinet announces subsidy measures for swine fever losses

Taipei, Oct. 30 (CNA) The Executive Yuan on Thursday announced subsidies for pig farmers and other businesses in the pork industry affected by controls put in place due to an outbreak of African swine fever.

The control measures, enacted after cases were confirmed on a Taichung farm on Oct. 22, include banning the slaughter and transport of pigs as well as using food waste as pig feed for 15 days.

Pig farmers will receive subsidies of NT$300 (US$9.77) per animal for higher feed costs resulting from the ban on using food waste, and up to NT$18,000 for every farm to cover fuel expenses for clearing out food waste, the Cabinet said.

They are also entitled to an NT$810 per animal for additional feed costs resulting from the slaughter ban.

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Meat sellers will receive an NT$30,000 compensation for income losses from suspending operations during the transport and slaughter bans, while meat markets can receive up to NT$200,000 for rent cost losses, according to the Cabinet.

Individual meat wholesalers will be entitled to NT$15,000 for operation suspension losses, while slaughterhouses can receive NT$280 per animal affected by the slaughter ban.

Compensation of NT$2,500 per animal is also available for each piglet death caused by intensive breeding due to transport bans.

To encourage proactive reporting, the Ministry of Agriculture is offering NT$5,000 to farmers who inform them of a new case.

Financial aid is also available for legally registered pig farms, slaughterhouse owners, and farming organizations or farming businesses recognized as affected by the control measures.

First-time borrowers will be subsidized up to 1 percent of interest for six months from the start of their loan, while repeat borrowers can apply for six months of principal deferral, during which up to 1 percent of interest can also be subsidized.

Loan totals can reach up to NT$6 million, with guarantee fees exempt during the interest subsidy period.