June 20, 2023

Philippines' broiler farmers urge government to address frozen chicken imports amid oversupply

In light of the current oversupply situation that has led to declining revenues in the local poultry industry, broiler farmers in the Philippines have appealed to the country's Department of Agriculture (DA) to ease the importation of frozen chicken meat, Philippine News Agency reported.

The farmers argue that the continuous influx of imported chicken is counterproductive, as the domestic market is already saturated.

Gregorio San Diego, chairman of the United Broilers Raisers Association (UBRA), said that local poultry farmers have the capacity to meet the demand for domestic consumption, making the excessive importation unnecessary.

He also said that many of the imported chicken products have been frozen for months or even years, a fact unknown to most local consumers.

To gather insights and address these issues, the Odiongan Municipal Agriculture Office and the DA's Philippine Rural Development Project - Mimaropa conducted two days of focus group discussions (FGDs) with poultry operators in the town. The aim was to identify the sentiments, strengths, and weaknesses of the local industry, enabling the DA and provincial authorities to formulate supportive policies for the livestock sector.

Odiongan, a second-class municipality in Romblon, relies heavily on its swine and poultry industry for economic growth.

San Diego said that the lower prices of imported chicken are largely due to surplus stocks from countries with government subsidies for their poultry sector. However, the influx of imports has not led to a decrease in retail prices for dressed chicken.

Despite farm gate prices ranging from PHP 87 (~US$1.56; PHP 10 = US$0.18) to PHP 96 (~US$1.72) per kg, retail prices remain significantly higher at PHP 180 (~US$3.23) to PHP 200 (~US$3.59) per kg.

-      Philippine News Agency