June 6, 2008

Philippine farmers call for postponement of pork exports to Singapore

The National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. (NFHFI) of the Philippines is urging the government to defer the approval of pork exports to Singapore as the domestic hog supply is still low.

NFHFI vice chairman Renato R. Eleria said that the planned shipment should be temporarily put to hold as the pork sector is still recovering from a recent shortage.

Eleria explained that the Philippine hog industry remains highly vulnerable to a recurrence of a still unknown disease that almost wiped out the backyard hog industry, which accounts for 70 percent of the national production.

The disease last year that has stricken the local hog industry caused pork prices to rise to PHP180 per kilogramme.

Current prices are at PHP180 to PHP212 per kilo. Farmgate or live weight prices have dropped for the time being to PHP105 per kilo for commercial hogs and PHP95 per kilo for backyard hogs.

Eleria said that retail prices remain high partly due to high transport costs.

US$1 = PHP44.18 as of June 6, 2008