Swine industry in the Philippines tries to push forward in spite of disease scare worldwide

 

 

With much at stake the Philippine government works with the local hog industry to eradicate all health loopholes.

 

It is an interesting fact that despite the lack of government subsidies, the swine industry is the second leading contributor to Philippine agriculture after rice. About 71 percent of hogs are raised in backyard farms and the rest are in commercial farms.

 

Even as the swine flu scare continues to hang over the Philippines, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is trying to respond to the request of the local hog sector to work on immediately clearing Mindanao of all hog diseases so that it can proceed with its derailed plan to start exporting pork products.

 

BAI will prioritize the testing of hogs in Mindanao for any possible infection from the Ebola Reston Virus (ERV) strain and other hog diseases.

 

The supply of pork in the country continues to be very tight, according to the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. as the industry players have been affected by the disease outbreak in Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, which are among the biggest producers of hogs in the country.

 

However, the federation is optimistic about a recovery, and the recovery of the industry will depend on how fast Vis-Min groups can expand their operation to make up for the lost supply caused by the outbreak.

 

Government officials were also tapped to help the industry through strengthening market linkages between meat importers and hog growers.