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The
Philippine swine industry is the largest and most developed
among the animal industries in the country. In 2005, pork
production reached 1.76 million tons valued at P126.3 billion
or about 45% of the total livestock production and 15.41%
of the total value of production in agriculture.
The industry
also seems unfazed by the entry of imported pork products
since the country’s accession to the World Trade Organization
in 1994. The Filipinos’ taste for fresh/chilled pork
serves as a protection against imported pork products.
Despite
this, the local industry remains under threat by the cheaper
imported pork. While rather slow, pork importation has increased
over the years.
The local
industry could not compete with imports in terms of production
cost. Inputs such as corn, soybean meal and breeding stocks
are more costly than in other livestock-producing countries.
The major
challenge, according to Usec. Fortunato T. dela Peña
of the Department of Science and Technology, is “on
making the cost of production, at least, import competitive.”
One key
intervention is to ensure a sustainable supply of corn. Based
on projections, corn supply in the year 2020 should be twice
as much as the 2004 consumption for the swine industry to
meet the increased local requirement for pork. To do this,
there has to be significant investment in agricultural research
and development (R&D).
Another
key intervention is to improve swine production efficiency,
which may either be a reduction in production costs or an
increase in output per unit of input. Again, R&D would
play a major role in achieving this.
Practically,
production efficiency could be achieved through the appropriate
use of genetic stocks, sound feeding and nutritional regime,
strict sanitation, adequate disease control, proper housing,
and application of sound over-all management systems.
Ensuring
the freshness and cleanliness of pork would also be a relevant
intervention as there is a growing consumer preference for
quality and safe food products. By implementing sound management
systems from the early phase of production to primary processing,
product quality and safety could be enhanced.
Meanwhile,
policy interventions could also increase the productivity
and competitiveness of the Filipino corn farmers and pork
producers.
One
major policy reform could be the re-negotiation of the tariffs
on pork and poultry imports at optimal levels. A legislation
on rational zoning policies with heavier penalties coupled
with stricter implementation of anti-smuggling laws could
be another.
These
interventions represent a holistic range of science-based
solutions needed to perk up the local pork industry. (Don
Joseph M. Medrana, S&T Media Service)
Sources:
Keynote
address of Usec. Fortunato T. dela Peña of the Department
of Science and Technology delivered at the Forum on BLIVE
Part 2 Hog Integrated Export Development Program held on March
21-23, 2007.
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