DIBRUGARH: Hundreds of pig farmers from Assam's Dibrugarh district staged a sit-in protest at Chowkidinghee on Monday, voicing their opposition to the potential entry of the Thai agricultural giant Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group into Assam's pig farming sector. This demonstration coincides with the state government's preparations to welcome the multinational corporation at the upcoming Advantage Assam 2.0 summit.
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), a subsidiary of CP Group, is the world's largest feed and shrimp producer and ranks among the top three in poultry and pork. The corporation's entry was seen as a threat to the livelihoods of over ten lakh small-scale pig farmers in the state. Jayanta Gogoi, one of the protesters, said, "This is a matter of survival for us. While we appreciate the government's interest in foreign investment, this should not be at the expense of local enterprises."
The protest highlighted the importance of pig farming in Assam's rural economy, as about 1.63 million pigs are reared there, which is close to 16% of the total pig population in India. The local farmers fear that the advanced technology and pricing strategies of CP Group could disrupt the market. Mukul Borah, a second-generation pig farmer, said that if the corporation reduces the prices, many local farmers would be left bankrupt.
Protesters called for improved government support to indigenous farming methods, with upgraded infrastructure and financial aid for more prominent local operations.
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