January 15, 2008

China's Zhejiang targets higher pork production

Zhejiang's provincial government aims to raise annual meat and egg production to 1.8 million tonnes and 0.5 million tonnes respectively by 2010. It has also targeted for 80 percent of meat consumed in the province, particularly that of pork, to be met by local supplies.

As part of its plan, Lishui, Taizhou and Wenzhou, regions that until now, requires pork imports to meet local demand, will receive support from the government to boost hog production on a bigger scale. This will increase self-sufficiency in pork production in these regions in the years to come.

Other than hog production, Zhejiang will also give production of pasture-fed cattle a boost, as certain areas had been earmarked for developments into specialized beef and dairy cattle production regions.

Besides building up the physical infrastructures, the provincial government is also looking into establishing a product tracing system, where meat purchased by consumers can be traced to its sources.