August 14, 2020

New Zealand government's surplus pork buy scheme amid lockdown lauded

New Zealand Pork, which is the statutory industry board that works to support the country's pork producers and farmers, has praised the government for devising a scheme that helped the industry through the purchase of surplus pork, which was then given to food banks to counter the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the scheme, the government distributed about 630 tonnes of pork around the country, which is equivalent to more than 1.7 million pork meals delivered to nearly 570,000 people in need. This cost the government $5.8 million, Rural News reported.

As the COVID-19 lockdown closed slaughterhouses, caterers and restaurants, pig farmers faced the prospect of animal surplus and they either had to kill pigs to depopulate their farms or hold pigs back in the hope they could be sent to abattoirs later.

"This (scheme) has been a very successful and innovative programme on every level," David Baines, NZ Pork chief executive, told Rural News.

"It provided quality nutritious food to communities in need and has enabled surplus pork to be moved off-farm and through the supply chain, helping to avert what was a looming animal welfare crisis."

He also said that the scheme delivered much-needed cash to pork wholesalers who were under severe cash-flow and profitability pressure.

Baines said the pork industry was grateful for the cooperation of the various players in the supply chain and for the role of the government and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Some wholesalers, meanwhile, said that even though government financing for the scheme has now ended as the situation has become manageable, they will continue to supply products to food banks.