• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
In a bid to rescue backyard raisers struggling against low farmgate prices and the lingering impact of African swine fever (ASF), the provincial government of Negros Occidental is considering the establishment of a minimum buying and retail price for pork.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said they are studying a floor price for both live hogs and slaughtered pork to shield local producers from further economic collapse.
The initiative has drawn strong support from the Alliance of Hog Raisers Association of Negros Occidental (AHRANO) led by Ric Lauron, who confirmed that they already submitted a formal position paper to the governor through the Provincial Veterinary Office, urging immediate government price regulation. Lauron said liveweight prices have plunged sharply to between P110 and P120 per kilogram (kg.) across the province, with only a few local government units (LGUs) seeing procurement prices peak at P130 per kg.
However, hog raisers emphasize that even a P130 per kg. rate is insufficient to cover the current steep costs of feed and overall production.
To give raisers a chance at recovery, AHRANO is appealing for a regulated minimum liveweight price of P160 to P180 per kg.
“The ASF outbreaks in several towns and cities severely affected supply and prices,” Lauron noted. “Without intervention, many small hog raisers will be forced to close.”
Lacson said they will conduct consultations among hog raisers, traders, and consumers to ensure any proposed price control maintains market affordability. | GPB
