Mapping the Pork Value Chain in Meghalaya: Stakeholder Survey for Tracking Stock Movement and Disease Control

Meghalaya, a northeastern Indian state characterized by its mountainous terrain and substantial tribal population, exhibits a high reliance on porcine products as a primary dietary component.Despite widespread domestic swine husbandry, the state's demand necessitates significant inter-state importation, thereby elevating the potential for disease and vector introduction.This study investigates the porcine and pork supply chain within Meghalaya, delineating key stakeholders and mapping livestock movement.Employing a combined convenience and chain-referral sampling strategy, data were collected from 105 stakeholders across four geographically diverse districts.Participants were categorized based on their roles within the supply chain, encompassing primary producers, intermediaries, wholesalers, processors, and retailers.The study revealed that National Highway Six serves as a critical conduit for the entrance of swine from external states, posing a substantial risk for the dissemination of transboundary animal diseases and foodborne pathogens.The prevailing informal and unregulated nature of piggery commerce and processing amplifies the vulnerability to epizootic events.This research underscores the imperative for the implementation of a robust traceability system to facilitate comprehensive monitoring of pig movement and effective disease containment, thereby enhancing food safety and safeguarding public health within Meghalaya.Furthermore, future investigations should evaluate stakeholder receptivity to participation in surveillance programs focused on foodborne and zoonotic diseases detectable at the point of slaughter.Additionally, integrating these stakeholders into transboundary animal disease control strategies through targeted education, awareness campaigns, and capacity-building initiatives will enable the effective application of a One Health approach.