March 2, 2022

Thailand proposes new swine campaign to boost farming standards

Thailand's Department of Livestock Development (DLD) has proposed a new 'Pig Sandbox' campaign aimed at boosting swine farming standards in the country and addressing the issue of African swine fever (ASF), the National News Bureau Of Thailand reported.

ASF is believed to be a key factor behind a recent swine shortage that resulted in soaring pork prices.

Sorawit Thanito, DLD Director-General, said the campaign includes a special control area that allows swine farmers to raise and sell hogs within a designated zone. The initiative also aims to provide high quality pork meat to meet market demand.

The new farms under this campaign will be managed in accordance to three key principles: scan, screen, and support. Scan to investigate the risk of disease spreading, screen to uncover a farm's readiness, and support to help farms raise hogs, secure investment financing, and finding markets for products.

The DLD said the number of Thai swine farms have been decreasing and breeders are in short supply in pork producing provinces. Local farmers have been downscaling operations to lower investment spend.

Sorawit said strict measures will be implemented by officials to stop meat and live swine smuggling from ships. Officials will also carry out investigations at markets, farms and slaughterhouses.

-      National News Bureau Of Thailand