The Department of Agriculture (DA) has observed a drop in the retail prices of fresh pork.

As per latest report of DA-Bantay Presyo Price Monitoring Unit, the prevailing price of kasim is now at P280/kg, down from its peak price of P360/kg in January 2021, while liempo sells at P340/kg, P60 cheaper than its peak price at P400/kg in January 2021.

Meanwhile, frozen pork sold in wet markets continues to be cheaper by P60/kg compared to fresh pork: at P220/kg for frozen kasim; and P280/kg for frozen liempo.

However, only seven out of every 100 meat stalls are selling frozen pork in NCR wet markets as frozen pork requires chillers.

The DA projects a continuing downward movement of local pork prices at NCR wet markets.

The retail prices generally follow the price movements of farmgate prices of hogs.

Available data from hog producers indicate that farmgate prices have gradually declined since January 2021.

If the trend continues, the DA projects retail prices may return back to the price level of September last year.

The DA will continue to assist pork producers to maintain this momentum and push the industry to sustain its repopulation and recovery.

It shall continue to collaborate with the private sector and the local government units in the implementation of our “OneDA Family” twin program, of hog repopulation or INSPIRE and “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” or BABay ASF” to revitalize the country’s swine industry.

Coupled with this, the DA through its Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), has allotted an additional P300 million (M) for lending to backyard and semi-commercial raisers in “green zones” or areas free from the African Swine Fever (ASF).

The additional amount will help support continuing efforts to revive the country’s hog industry.

The DA-ACPC launched its Agri-Negosyo (ANYO) SWINE R3 program and calibrated swine repopulation for ASF green zones, on September 10, 2021.

In particular, the P300 M will help finance swine projects in four ASF-free areas, particularly in Regions 4B (MIMAROPA), 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), and 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).

Eligible borrowers include individual, start-up and existing semi-commercial swine raisers (SCSR), small enterprises, and farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs).

Individual borrowers can avail of up to P300,000, start-up SCSR up to P1 M, existing SCSR up to P3M, and small enterprises and FCAs up to P15 M. The loan has zero interest, and payable up to five years, said ACPC Director Jocelyn Badiola.

Last year, the DA-ACPC initially allotted P500 M for lending to backyard raisers and micro and small enterprises (MSEs) under its ANYO program. As of August 31, 2021, the ACPC has lent P157.18 M to 1,660 small hog farmers and MSEs.

In all, the “OneDA Family” has to date alloted P3 billion (B ) to revive the country’s swine industry. It includes the P800-M lending program, P1.2-B fund for the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” and P872 M for INSPIRE or Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion program.

INSPIRE is a three-year calibrated hog repopulation program that involves the establishment of breeder multiplier farms, and intensive and modernized production by clustered farms. From 2021 to 2023, the DA targets to produce 440,563 breeders and 10.5 million finishers.

In addition to the P3-B fund from DA, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) have alloted a total P42 B for lending to commercial raisers in ASF-free areas.

Under its “Special Window and Interim Support to Nurture Hog Enterprises” or SWINE lending program, LandBank has approved P295.8 M, as of June 30, 2021, and processing P3.774-B worth of projects.

For its part, the DBP under its “Swine Rehabilitation, Repopulation and Recovery” or Swine R3 credit program has approved P300 M, as of July 31, 2021, and evaluating P3.6-B worth of projects.

Several major agribusiness firms are also partnering with the Duterte administration to revive the swine industry, like Univet Nutrition and Animal Healthcare Company (UNAHCO) and Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines, Corp. (CP Foods).

In particular, CP Foods has committed to produce an additional 600,000 finishers next year, comprising one-fifth of the total 3-M decrease in hog population since 2019. The company also plans to buy at least 300,000 metric tons (MT) of yellow corn from farmers’ groups for its feedmill business. ### (DA StratComms)