Thetsumi Village, located in Phek district, has introduced a revised piggery model in response to the devastating African Swine Fever outbreak in 2024, which wiped out all pigs in the village. The initiative, organized by the Thetsumi Village Council under Chairman Vetshe Tsuzuh and the Village Development Board (VDB) Secretary Mesevekha Doulo, aims to support local pig farmers and prevent future disease outbreaks.
The revised model includes strict measures aimed at protecting the community’s livestock from diseases. These measures involve maintaining proper pig sties, prohibiting the import of pigs from outside the village, and ensuring that piglets are sourced locally. The Thetsumi Village Council’s efforts are aligned with the larger goal of minimizing the risk of further disease outbreaks and ensuring the sustainability of the pig farming industry.
In 2024, Thetsumi Village became the first community in the Chakhesang region to enforce a ban on pig imports, demonstrating its commitment to disease prevention. The initiative was initially established in 1998 under the leadership of the late Mesechulo Lasuh, former Village Council Chairman, and has continued to evolve over the years.
On February 19, 2025, the village held a program focused on revising the piggery model to provide better practices for pig rearing. The event began with a prayer by Associate Pastor Lhouvezulo Nuh of Thetsumi Baptist Church (TBC), followed by a welcome address from Doulo. The program also featured a dedicatory prayer by Pastor Lhoukhrope Tsuzuh. The event concluded with the distribution of free piglets to beneficiaries, marking the start of a renewed effort to restore the local pig farming industry.