PORK PRICES. The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Wednesday (Sept. 29, 2021) that prices of pork have started to normalize in the markets. The DA said it will continue to assist pork producers to maintain this momentum and push the industry to sustain its repopulation and recovery. (PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Wednesday that prices of pork have started to normalize in the markets
A report from its Bantay Presyo Price Monitoring Unit showed the prevailing price of kasim is now at PHP280 per kilo, down from its peak price of PHP360 per kilo in January 2021, while liempo sells at PHP340 per kilo, which is PHP60 cheaper than its peak price at PHP400 per kilo in January 2021.
Frozen pork sold in wet markets also continues to be cheaper by PHP60 per kilogram compared to fresh pork -- at PHP220 per kilo for frozen kasim, and PHP280 per kilo for frozen liempo.
However, the report also mentioned that only seven out of every 100 meat stalls are selling frozen pork in the National Capital Region (NCR) wet markets as frozen pork requires chillers.
"If the trend continues, the DA projects retail prices may return to the price level of September last year," the DA said.
The DA added it will continue to assist pork producers to maintain this momentum and push the industry to sustain its repopulation and recovery.
To continue with this development, the DA said it will maintain its partnership with the private sector and local government units in the implementation of the “OneDA Family” twin program, of hog repopulation or INSPIRE and “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” or BABay ASF” to fully revitalize the country’s swine industry.
Apart from this, the DA also shoulders financial assistance through its Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) which has allotted an additional PHP300 million for lending to the backyard and semi-commercial raisers in “green zones” or areas that are already free from the African swine fever (ASF).
The additional amount will help support continuing efforts to revive the country’s hog industry.
On September 10, the DA-ACPC launched its Agri-Negosyo (ANYO) SWINE R3 program and calibrated swine repopulation for ASF green zones.
Eligible borrowers include individual, start-up and existing semi-commercial swine raisers (SCSR), small enterprises, and farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs).
In previous reports, ACPC Director Jocelyn Badiola said individual borrowers can avail of up to PHP300,000 start-up SCSR up to PHP1 million, existing SCSR up to PHP3 million, and small enterprises and FCAs up to PHP15 million. The loan has zero interest, and is payable for up to five years.
INSPIRE is a three-year calibrated hog repopulation program that involves the establishment of breeder multiplier farms, and intensive and modernized production by clustered farms. From 2021 to 2023, the DA targets to produce 440,563 breeders and 10.5 million finishers.
In addition to the PHP3-billion fund from DA, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) have allotted a total of PHP42 billion for lending to commercial raisers in ASF-free areas.
Under its “Special Window and Interim Support to Nurture Hog Enterprises” or SWINE lending program, LandBank has approved PHP295.8 million, as of June 30, 2021, and processing PHP3.774-billion worth of projects.
The DBP under its “Swine Rehabilitation, Repopulation and Recovery” or Swine R3 credit program has approved PHP300 million as of July 31, 2021, and evaluating PHP3.6-billion worth of projects.
Several major agribusiness firms are also partnering with the Duterte administration to revive the swine industry, like Univet Nutrition and Animal Healthcare Company (UNAHCO) and Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines, Corp. (CP Foods).
In particular, CP Foods has committed to producing an additional 600,000 finishers next year, comprising one-fifth of the total 3-million decrease in hog population since 2019. The company also plans to buy at least 300,000 metric tons (MT) of yellow corn from farmers’ groups for its feed mill business. (PNA)
