MANILA, Philippines - The country may experience a pork shortage by December if the Aquino Administration does not address the continued shortfall in hog production.
Albert Lim, president of the Federation of Pork Producers, said there is a continuing shortfall in hog production, but due to the continued lack of demand, pork prices are holding steady.
Lim pointed out that if production is adequate, pork prices should have dropped by now. Instead the Department of Agriculture said pork prices range from P150 to P175 per kilo in the wet markets and much higher in the supermarkets.
On the other hand, farm-gate prices in Luzon are down to an average of P106 per kilo and much lower in the Visayas and Mindanao, Lim said.
He said the DA should now embark on a piglet distribution program for backyard farmers so that by December, when demand is expected to pick up again, there will be adequate supply.