January 19, 2021

Swine population in the Philippines grows following repopulation programme

Reildrin Morales, director of the Philippines' Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Industry said the country's swine population has grown by about 700,000 heads in 2021 thanks to a repopulation programme, following two straight years of declines due to the spread of African swine fever (ASF), Reuters reported.

He said hog inventory has increased from 9.1 million heads a year ago to 9.8 million, which is a substantial increase following a decline of 3 million heads between 2019 and 2020 because of massive culling.

The Philippines was forced to boost pork imports to address the domestic shortage of the meat and temper food inflation since the ASF outbreaks.

According to department data, as of January 13, ASF remains active in 45 villages, a small number compared to the 3,582 villages affected by the disease since the first ASF outbeak was confirmed in 2019.

The Philippines was the seventh biggest pork importer in the world before local demand was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morales said the private sector has led the government-funded repopulation programme, and expects domestic pork supplies to increase further, eventually stabilising pork prices.

-      Reuters