Hog raisers lament losses as imports drive pork prices down

Hog raisers are now selling pork at a loss as imports have caused farmgate prices to drop, a farmers group said Thursday.

According to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), farmgate prices have dropped to P110 a kilo, with farmers selling at a loss or at breakeven.

"Kung titignan natin, talagang breakeven sila or all loss sila," Rosendo So, SINAG Chairman, said in an interview on GMA's "24 Oras" on Thursday.

"So 'pag ganon ang mangyayari, siyempre lugi ka, bakit ka pa mag-aalaga? 'Yun ang mangyayari kung 'di talaga isa-stop ng government 'yung importation ng pork," he elaborated.

SINAG claimed that in 2018, local production of pork was recorded at 2.3 billion kilograms, while imports reached 392 million kilograms to reach a total supply of 2.7 billion kilograms.

The Philippines currently has a yearly consumption of 1.53 billion kilograms, leaving a surplus of 1.18 billion kilograms or equivalent to eight months worth of supplies.

"Dapat kasi, tinitignan ng Department of Agriculture (DA) kung 'yung local production, malaki. Bina-balance 'yung import tsaka local production," said So.

The DA has yet to release a statement on the matter. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/MDM, GMA News