April 27, 2021
 

US$27.5 million project to expand live hog production in South Cotabato, Philippines, approved

 

 

The Philippines' Board of Investments (BOI) has approved Biotech Farms, Inc.'s ₱1.33-billion (US$27.5 million) project to expand its live hog production at a swine facility in South Cotabato.

 

In a statement on April 23, BOI said Biotech Farms would add 2,500 sow-level piggery farms at its facility.

 

The project will boost the farm's annual swine production by 48%, BOI said, adding that the current swine production capacity of the facility is at 114,400 hogs (11.44 million kilogrammes).

 

Biotech Farms will have an additional capacity of 54,600 hogs (5.46 million kilogrammes), increasing its annual production to 169,000 hogs (16.9 million kilogrammes.).

 

The investment promotion agency said the project would also put up "state-of-the-art facilities with the latest pig production system similar to what is implemented in the United States and Australia" to ensure healthy and efficient hog production.

 

"Once operational, the project will help in the arrest of the continuously increasing pork importation," BOI said.

 

Since the start of the year, consumers have been facing high prices of pork meat due to the lack of local production as pigs have been affected by African swine fever.

 

According to the Department of Agriculture, the country incurred a deficit of 130,000 tonnes of pork meat last year, as demand reached 1.25 million tonnes while supply was only at 1.12 million tonnes.

 

Annual growth of local production was averaging at 2.5%, while pork importation grew at a faster rate of 7%.

 

Biotech Farm's new facility will be operational by April 2022, BOI said.

 

- Philippine News Agency