Zambian farmers who lost herds of pigs from the African swine fever (AFS) in recent months will get ex gratia payment, said President Edgar Lungu.

Though there is now law that allows for compensation to farmers whose animals died of diseases, Lungu said payments must be made to the affected smallholder farmers to cushion their vulnerability.

“The Minister of Finance, Felix Mutati, will look for money so that affected farmers are paid through the grace of government,” he said.

Lungu directed Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Michael Katambo to do the costing, and to ensure the payment process was fraud-free. Katambo said K10 million worth of pigs have died. However, he did not give a number of affected farmers.

The highly contagious hemorrhagic disease wiped out an estimated 30 000 pigs in Luapula and Northern Provinces. Authorities suspended the movement of pigs from affected areas and imposed a ban on the sale of pig products to contain the disease.

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