Thematic Paper | Livestock (Pigs)
Why is MDF involved in the Pig sector?
In both countries, pigs provide an important source of protein, hold important cultural value and contribute significantly to households’ asset base. The sector has significant potential for inclusive economic growth and women’s economic empowerment due to the widespread significance of pigs to rural livelihoods and growing demand for protein.
MDF’s overall vision for the pig sector is to see more smallholder farmers shift to dedicated, productive pig rearing, rather than basic, foraging-based production. Innovations in inputs, breed and animal husbandry have been shown to raise productivity, allowing smallholders to fill the growing gap between demand and supply, and generate higher returns from their pigs.
MDF supports the pig sector in Timor-Leste, where around 82 per cent of households raise pigs, and in PNG, where 47 per cent of rural households rear nearly 1.8 million pigs.
Since 2019, pig herds across the Indo-Pacific region have been increasingly threatened by the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), a highly contagious pig disease. It is likely that a significant proportion of the pig populations in PNG and Timor-Leste have already died, with significant consequences for household livelihoods and the rural economy. There is no treatment for ASF, so prevention is key. In Timor-Leste and PNG, MDF plays an important role in supporting the Australian, Timor-Leste and PNG Governments’ response to ASF.
MDF is introducing biosecurity measures, such as keeping pigs in pens and avoiding contamination during handling and feeding, to keep the disease from spreading. These measures complement MDF’s work to raise productivity.
Due to ASF, risks in this market system will continue to be high, but so are the opportunities. MDF has encountered substantial market interest in mitigating the impact of the virus and raising productivity. MDF is supporting the private sector to introduce practices that prevent the spread of the disease and increase the yields of pig farms.
