DA chief challenges swine industry to raise hog population to pre-ASF levels

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday called on swine industry stakeholders to restore the country’s hog population to pre-African Swine Fever (ASF) levels.

“Before ASF, we had nearly 14 million hogs, now, we have eight million. This creates a six-million head deficit. With a growing population, demand is far higher than the previous 14 million,” Tiu Laurel said in his remarks during the 25th National Hog Convention and Trade Exhibit in Pasay City.

“My challenge to the industry is clear: We need to produce an additional two million hogs each year—through 2026, 2027, and 2028—to return to pre-ASF levels… and that’s the minimum,” he said.

The local swine sector has been bearing the brunt of the disease since the first outbreak in 2019, with about six million heads reduced from the hog population, according to the DA.

Tiu Laurel also expressed confidence in the potential commercial rollout of an ASF vaccine this year and the financial support from the proposed Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act, “which together could help accelerate the industry's recovery.”

The Agriculture chief, meanwhile, tasked DA Undersecretary for Livestock Dante Palabrica to create a roadmap to guide the recovery of the swine industry, which is critical to the nation’s food security and economic growth.

The livestock and poultry sectors, comprising a quarter of the country’s agricultural output, provide livelihoods for over 2.8 million Filipino farmers, according to the DA.

Pork and chicken account for more than half of the Filipino diet’s protein source, it said.

Under the proposed animal industry competitiveness enhancement fund, around P4 billion will be allocated for the swine industry to support its recovery and growth.

If the swine industry could restore population to pre-ASF levels, Tiu Laurel said that “it would mean a significant reduction in pork import, which has taken the slack in local production.”

“Filipinos still prefer the meat of freshly slaughtered hogs,” he said.

The DA chief revealed that two large commercial hog producers have committed to each produce half a million more heads of hogs starting next year.

“If they deliver, I already have around one million additional heads,” he said. --VAL, GMA Integrated News