Pork prices continue to increase in the market because of African Swine Fever. (Photo from Manila Bulletin website) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in central and southern Luzon will continue to increase pork prices in Metro Manila as fear of the infection continues among hog raisers. Bureau of Animal Industry Director Ronnie Domingo told senators on Friday that the spread of ASF has lowered but they estimated a 20-percent decline in swine inventory.
Due to ASF scare some hog raisers slowed down or harvested early,” he said during the Senate finance subcommittee’s deliberation of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) P86.3-billion proposed 2021 budget. The hardest hit were Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog that’s why suppliers of pork in Metro Manila had to buy from farther areas. And adds cost to the retail prices of pork in Metro Manila,” he added.
In reply to a query of Senator Nancy Binay, Domingo said the increase in prices will continue as he confirmed that livestock farmers would have to wait at least eight months before they can raise pigs again to make sure their areas are free of the ASF virus. According to him, some 350,000 pigs were dead. He said no new provinces were reported having an incidence of the ASF infection in the recent months, but there was a “gradual increase” of cases among adjacent municipalities and villages.