February 5, 2021

 

ASF causes deaths of 36% of Philippines' pig stocks

  

 

Over a third of the Philippines' pig stocks were wiped out by African swine fever (ASF), which amounted to 36% of the total population.

 

"The official figures of 431,000 cited by the (Philippine's Department of Agriculture) as the number of hogs culled during the infestation period is an underestimation," an anonymous source said. "Private industry hog raisers estimate that the actual figure is around 4.7 million heads affected by ASF, which is over a third or 36% of the total population."

 

According to the source, the Philippine's Department of Agriculture (DAR) has underestimated the devastation caused by ASF that has now resulted in severe shortages of pork, leading to a rise in prices of many food items.

 

The source said that breeder stocks have been decimated by ASF as well. Breeder stocks are vital for reviving the local pork industry that is valued at PHP260 billion (US$4.97 billion). Some hog raisers have also attempted to minimise business losses estimated at US$1.2 billion by downsizing their pork productions.

 

"Such significant losses in production directly contribute to the impoverishment of livestock-breeding families, drastically reducing their opportunities to access health care and education, and sometimes leading to a loss in social status," said Monique Eloit, World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) director general.

 

ASF has hit backyard farmers harder than commercial pork producers in the Philippines.

 

"It negatively affects the livelihoods of numerous poor households that depend on pigs as a source of protein and income, as means to capitalise savings, and as safety nets during times of hardship," said Eloit. "Many such farmers have lost or will lose their businesses because of ASF.

 

"Since it is impossible to control the disease in the short term without a vaccine and due to the difficulty of applying strict bio-security measures, communities are propelled into a downward spiral of sustained poverty."

 

So far, the agriculture department has announced setting aside of US$1.7 million for the development and mass production of locally made ASF test kits.

 

Pork has recently experienced a steep 60% increase in price in January, rising to PHP400 (US$8.30) per kilogramme compared to PHP250 (US$5.20) per kilogramme six months ago. This is nearly equal to the minimum daily wage in Metro Manila, which is at PHP537 (US$11.17).

 

The drastic increase in the price of pork has triggered a ripple effect in the price of other meats, vegetables and basic commodities.

 

 - PHYS.ORG ­­­­