Pandemic affects pork producers in Alentejo, Portugal

The number of pork farms in Alentejo has halved in a decade, but in the first quarter of this year exports increased by 9.1 percent. On the other hand, with the pandemic, the production of Alentejan mountain pork reduced by about 35 percent and the price slipped 40 percent. Text Aníbal Fernandes The number of livestock farms with pigs has halved in Alentejo. There were 2590 farms in 2009. There are now 1263, according to the last Agricultural Census. In 1999 there were 7395. About two decades ago, there were 1051 pig farms in Odemira, 321 in Ourique and 275 in Serpa. Today there are 203 in Odemira, 104 in Ourique and 98 in Serpa. In the specific sector of the Alentejo mountain pig, unlike the white pig, the pandemic was noticed. There was a 35 percent drop in demand and a 40 percent drop in price. The Alentejano Pork Breeders Association (ACPA) would sell 20,000 pigs for around 10 million euros, but so far they have only managed to sell 65 percent of the production, but at a lower ...