Philippines: Pork producers decry low farm-gate prices

The country’s largest pork producers group decried the low farm-gate prices, prompting them to launch a nationwide campaign, appealing to consumers to prefer local pork over imported. In a text exchange, Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, Inc. (PPFPI) President Nonon Tambago said local hog raisers have been dealing with falling farm-gate prices over the last four weeks, a situation worsened by rising production costs. “Farmgate (livehogs) prices all over the country dropped by 25 to 35 percent for the last four weeks while farm inputs like feeds keep on increasing. Pinoy hog farmers are suffering due to this situation. Some are expected to sell their hogs below cost,” Tambago said on Wednesday. As in other food producers and retailers in the Philippines, Tambago attributed this situation to low demand for the agricultural commodity as well as the continuous entry of cheaper imported meat in the country. United Broilers Raisers Association (UBRA) Chairman Gregorio San ...