Hog farmgate prices drop due to ASF scare

MANILA, Philippines — Farmgate prices of live hogs have dropped by as much as P40 per kilo as demand for pork and pork products decreased due to African swine fever (ASF), according to farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura.

Sinag executive director Jayson Cainglet yesterday said that prices decreased by P30 to P40 per kilo this week, with the prevailing rate hovering between P160 and P180 from P240 a kilo last week.

Cainglet attributed the decline in the farmgate prices of live hogs to low demand for pork.

He said a majority of pork consumers shifted to chicken meat following reports of new ASF cases in the country.

“We hope the drop in farmgate prices is reflected in the (retail) price of pork. Based on our reports, a lot of consumers are no longer eating pork,” he said. “We have a lot of pork supply and people are not buying. We are hoping that Filipino consumers would continue to patronize local pork.”

Stakeholders in the hog industry as well as national and local government units have been conducting programs to raise awareness that locally produced pork is safe for consumption.

These programs are intended to encourage consumers not to stop patronizing pork and pork products.

Earlier, industry players and government officials gave assurance that while ASF may be fatal to hogs, it does not pose any harm to humans.

As of Tuesday, a kilo of pork shoulder in Metro Manila cost between P260 and P370, and pork belly between P305 to P400.

The prices were lower by P10 to P65 than the prevailing rates last month at P300 and P380 for pork shoulder, and between P370 and P400 for pork belly.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has inspected 1,963 shipments of live animals and meat products at various checkpoints in the National Capital Region.

Of the total shipments inspected, up to 113 were returned to their points of origin due to non-compliance with animal health regulations, the DA said.

Thirteen shipments were subjected to further testing and 10 others were condemned due to serious health concerns.

The rest, after meeting the necessary requirements, were cleared and released, the DA said.