May 14, 2008

Philippines to massively restock hog numbers to prop up supply

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) will earmark P90 million (US$2.09 million) to restock hog supplies for backyard raisers as well as widespread vaccination of sows in Luzon to prop up the supply of hogs in the region.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said more than 200,000 sows will be vaccinated to against certain diseases that ravaged hog farms in Luzon last year.

He said the vaccination and restocking programme -- also meant to stabilise pork prices-- is now in full swing and is being undertaken in Regions 3 and 4-A.

The vaccination program alone, the DA chief said, would cost around P40 million. He said P30 million has already been released to fund its implementation.

The Bureau of Animal Industry Director Davinio Catbagan said the restocking programme aims to distribute 50,000 hog breeders to backyard raisers initially in Luzon.

The onslaught of diseases such as porcine diarrhoea and hog cholera among hog farms in Luzon last year is now causing supply shortfall in the region. This is being pointed as the main reason behind the increase in the retail prices of pork in Metro Manila.

Earlier, some hog raisers have hinted at the possibility that the retail price of pork may shoot up to as much as P200 per kilogram in wet markets.

The restocking of hogs is one of the recommendations made by the National Federation of Hog Raisers Inc. to stabilize supply in Luzon and in other parts of the country.