Taiwan’s government is rolling out subsidies and support measures to protect the pork industry after its first African swine fever case. African swine fever has prompted a 15-day ban on transporting and slaughtering pigs, severely impacting farmers, slaughterhouses, and meat markets.
Premier Cho Jung-tai emphasized the urgency of mitigating economic damage and safeguarding livelihoods. He instructed the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and Ministry of Economic Affairs to begin accepting applications immediately. The government expects applications to open on Monday.
Subsidies cover multiple areas. Pig farmers receive NT$810 per pig to offset feed costs during delayed market entry. Meat markets can claim up to NT$200,000, while slaughterhouses receive NT$280 per head. Live pig wholesalers get NT$15,000, and traditional market stalls NT$30,000. Farms using food waste as feed will receive NT$300 per pig as compensation for transitioning away from kitchen waste.
Fuel subsidies will range from NT$8,000 for smaller farms to NT$18,000 for operations with over 2,000 pigs. Additional compensation of NT$2,500 per pig will cover losses from overcrowding due to movement restrictions. Voluntary reporting of African swine fever cases earns a NT$5,000 reward per report.
Financial support includes interest subsidies for first-time borrowers, capped at 1 percent for six months. Existing borrowers may defer payments for six months while receiving the same interest support. Each borrower may receive up to NT$6 million in new or existing loans with no guarantee processing fees during the subsidized period.
Premier Cho also directed the MOA to set up a centralized task force for epidemiological tracing. He emphasized the importance of acting quickly to prevent further spread of African swine fever. Taiwan has maintained strict measures, extending bans on pig transport and the use of kitchen waste in feed by 10 days.
Additional preventive measures include tiered farm inspections, intensified disinfection, and expanded epidemiological investigations. Cho called for cross-ministerial cooperation, including local governments and the Ministry of Environment, to achieve zero African swine fever cases.
Experts note that swift government intervention and financial support are critical to sustaining Taiwan’s pork industry during the outbreak. The coordinated approach highlights Taiwan’s commitment to controlling the disease while minimizing economic disruption.
