MANILA – The Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. (ProPork) announced Saturday that around 30 percent of backyard hog raisers will quit operations due to losses incurred as a result of the inflow of foreign pork products that have lowered farm-gate prices.
The local hog industry is reeling from the falling farm-gate prices as the price of live hogs currently range at P150 per kilo, according to ProPork chairman Nicanor Briones on Saturday.
In a bid to reduce retail prices of pork due to supply constraints caused by the African swine fever, the government hiked the minimum access volume for imported pork, and at the same time reduced import tariffs.
“Talaga namang bumabaha, napakamura, walang taripa, mababa, so bumagsak ang kabuhayan ng magbababoy sa buong bansa,” Briones said.
Thus, the industry leader said that about 30 percent of backyard hog raisers might stop their operations.
“Dahil nalulugi na ang backyard hog raiser, definitely, marami ang titigil… hindi na mag-aalaga, hindi na bibili ng biik dahil ngayon pa lang nalulugi na,” he added.
About 73 million kilos of imported pork are in cold storages, Briones said.
“Ibig sabihin n’yan ang intensiyon ng ating pamahalaan, imbes na tulungan ang mga magsasaka tulad ng magbababoy ay talagang pinapatay,” he added.(GMA News)
