Farmers are in a difficult situation because live hog prices are almost always below production costs after African swine fever appeared in Vietnam. In the midst of the epidemic, the pressure of competition with foreign meat makes farmers more exhausted.
* The more you raise the more you lose
Since the appearance of African swine fever in Vietnam, the price of live pigs has continuously fluctuated in a downhill direction, the price is often below 40,000 VND/kg, sometimes falling to only 24-25 thousand VND/kg/kg. kg. At the beginning of June, the price of live hog recovered, reaching over 40,000 VND/kg after a long period of low prices as the consumption market gradually stabilized. But right after that, the price of live pigs suddenly plummeted, now the price at the farm ranges from 30-32 thousand VND/kg.
Mr. Nguyen Kim Doan, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Livestock Association, added that in the past 1 month, the pork consumption market has achieved the same output as the same period last year because consumers are no longer restricting the use of pork. this item because of fear of disease. Although the disease spread with more than 2.6 million pigs culled across the country (accounting for 7-8% of the total herd), the supply of pork to the market never appeared to be a shortage of supply. Farms are still very rich in pork sources to supply to the market. Mr. Vu Viet De, raising household in Gia Tan 2 commune (Thong Nhat district) shared: “Since the appearance of African swine fever, the Many small livestock farmers leave empty barns. The reason why farmers quit the job is partly due to the impact of the disease, but mainly because the price of live pigs is often below the production cost, the more farmers raise the more capital loss.”
Also according to Mr. Doan: “The breeder fell into exhaustion because of heavy losses. While domestic pig prices have dropped and it is difficult to consume because of the epidemic, the massive opening of the door to import foreign meat makes farmers lose all opportunities to keep their herds and keep their jobs.
* Re-screening the livestock industry
Not only pig farmers are falling into difficulties in the “storm” of African swine fever and the “storm” of imported meat is flooding the domestic market, but this is also a common concern of farmers.
Nguyen Van Nhan, owner of a chicken and duck farm in Ho Nai 3 commune (Trang Bom district), said that from the beginning of the year until now, the supply of chicken and duck breeds has often been in short supply due to many chicken and duck farms. meat is newly invested or expanded. The weather is favorable for the development of poultry, so the supply is very abundant. “We are afraid of difficult output due to strong herd growth, the rapid increase of foreign meat imports in recent times has caused more insecurity for farmers,” said Mr. Nhan.
Giving a different perspective, Mr. Pham Duc Binh, General Director of Thanh Binh Co., Ltd., Vice Chairman of Vietnam Animal Feed Association, said that, if we look at the benefits of 100 million Vietnamese consumers, opening the door to import foreign meat is necessary. Because with the situation of African swine fever continues to spread, the market lacks supply, causing pork prices to rise is inevitable. What should be concerned is in the control of imported meat sources to ensure food quality and safety.
According to Mr. Pham Duc Binh: “Farmers are facing a big “storm” and in order to survive, the livestock industry must change towards industrial production to ensure biosecurity; implement traceability to ensure food safety. In the face of current competitive pressure, farmers, especially smallholder farmers, no longer have time to sit down or wait for support, but are forced to recalculate the investment problem and convert it to a professional or professional approach. have to change to another profession. In this common playground, farmers are forced to follow the rules of the market.”
By: Dong Nai Newspaper
